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MISSIONARY ANNALS. 

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I. 
MEMOIR OF ROBERT MOFFAT' 

BY MRS. M. L. WILDER. 



LIJ^E OF ADONIRAM JUDSOIs^ 

BY MISS JULIA H. JOHKSTON. 
HI. 

WOMAN AND THE GOSPEL IN p^Rg,^ 

BY REV. THOMAS LA VRIE, D. D. 
IV. 

LIFE OF EEV. JUSTIN PERKms, D. D 

BY REV. HEKRY MARTYN PERKINS. 
V. 

LIFE OF DAVID LIVINGSTONE 

Br MBS. J. H. WORCESTER, JR. 
OTHERS ,N PREPARATION, SENT POSTPAID ON RECEIPT OF PRICE. 



CHICAGO : 
Room 48, Mccormick Block. 



MISSIONARY ANNALS. 



(A SERIES.) 



LIFE or 

HENEY MAETYN", 

MISSIONARY TO INDIA AND PERSIA, 
1781 to 1812 



ABRIDGED FROM THE MEMOIR. 



MRS. SARAH J. RHEA. 



CHICAGO: 

Woman's Presbyterian Boajid of Foreign Missions of the Northwest, 

Hoom 48 McCormick Block, 






5 



COPVRlGHT, 1888, 
BY 

Woman's Presbyterian Board oe Missions 
OF THE Northwest. 



/^' '3^0 32^ 



r 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Education and Preparation, - .... 5 

Life in India, - - - ... . 13 

Life in Persia, and Death, - • - « - 29 



I hold in my hand an album adorned with pictures of missionaries, my 
brethren and sisters, the ambassadors of the King. On one of the first 
pages is " the tomb of Henry Martyn," given me by Dr. Yan Lennep, who 
had just visited the sacred spot and described it vividly. When I turn the 
pages of my album and come to this, I pause with reverence and the over- 
flowings of deep and tender emotion, and my mind adds other pictures, 
both terrestrial and celestial, to the one upon the page. My own missionary 
life as the companion of him whom Dr. Perkins called "the later Henry 
Martyn," was spent in Henry Martyn's Persia. They were alike I think in 
many things, these two Persian evangelists, and also in their deaths. 
When they passed out of the Tabriz gate, journeying homeward after a 
course of illness in the fated city, for each it was a quick ascent, a painful 
translation, to the heavenly city with abundant entrance and the Master's 
" well done " — in heaven; and on earth, a foreign grave taking possession 
for Christ, as the Nestorians reverently say, with " white stones still speak- 
ing out." ^ S. J. R. 



iY 



EDUCATION" AND PREPAEATION. 



HENEY MAKTYN was bom in England on the south- 
western coast of Truro, February 18, 1781. His father, 



Mr. John Martyn, worked in the mines. He was not edu- 
cated but was very fond of learning. The miners were in 
the habit of working and resting alternately every four 
hours. Mr. John Marty n spent many of his rest intervals in 
study, and so by diligence and education raised himself to a 
higher position, and became a clerk in the office of a mer- 
chant in Truro. When Henry was seven years old, he went 
to school to Dr. Cardew. From his earliest years all who 
knew him considered him a very interesting and promising 
child. Dr. Cardew says his proficiency in the classics 
exceeded that of his schoolfellows ; he was of a lively, cheer- 
ful temper and seemed to learn without application, almost 
by intuition. But he was not robust, and loving books 
better than sport, and having a peculiar tenderness and inof- 
fensiveness of spirit, he was often abused by rude and coarse 
boys in the school. A friendship which he formed at this 
time with a boy older than himself was the source of great 
comfort and advantage to him, and was kept up throughout 
his whole life. This friend often protected him from the 
bullies of the play-ground. At this school, under excellent 
tuition, Henry remained until fourteen years old, when he 
was induced to offer himself as a candidate for a vacant 
scholarship at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Young as 
he waSj he went there alone, and acquitted himself so well, 
lliough strongly and ably opposed by competitors, that in 

5 



6 LIFE OF HENBY MAETYN. 

the opinion of some of the examiners he ought to ha v been 
elected. How often is the hand of God seen in frustrating 
our fondest designs ! Speaking of this disappointment he 
afterwards wrote : " Had I remained and become a member 
of the university at that time, as I should have done in case 
of success, the profligate acquaintances I had there would 
have introduced me to scenes of debauchery, in which I 
must in all probability, from my extreme youth, have sunk 
forever." 

He continued after this with Dr. Cardew till 1797, and 
then joined his school friend at Cambridge at St. John's 
College. Here he obtained a place in the first class at the 
public examination in December, a circumstance- which, 
joined to the extreme desire he had to gratify his father, 
encouraged and excited him to study with increased alacrity, 
and as the fruit of this application, at the next public exami- 
nation in the summer he reached the second station in the 
first class, a point of elevation which " flattered his pride 
not a little." At this time he appeared in the eye of the 
world most amiable and commendable, outwardly moral, 
unwearied in application, and exhibited marks of no ordinary 
talent. One exception to this statement is to be found in an 
irritability of temper arising perhaps from the treatment he 
had received at school. On one occasion in sudden anger, he 
threw a knife at the head of another boy, which providen- 
tially missed him and was left trembhng in the wall; but it 
was a narrow escape, and might have proved fatal. Though 
not a Christian at this time, he was under two strong influ- 
ences for good, one from his religious friend in college, the 
other from his sister in Cornwall, a Christian of a meek, heav- 
enly and affectionate spirit. He paid a visit to his home in 
the summer of 1799, carrying with him no small degree of 



LIFE OF HENEr MAETYN". T 

acacleiaical honor. It may be well supposed that to a sister 
such as we have described, her brother's spiritual welfare 
would be a most serious and anxious concern ; and that she 
often conversed w^ith him on the subject of religion we know 
from his own declaration. The first result of her tender exhor- 
tations and earnest endeavors was very discouraging ; a 
violent conflict took place in her brother's mind between his 
conviction of the truth of what she urged, and his love of 
the w^orld ; and for the present, the latter prevailed. Yet, 
sisters similarly circumstanced may learn from this case, not 
merely tlieu' duty, but also, from the final result, the success 
they may anticipate in the faithful discharge of it 

"At the examination at Christmas, 1799," he writes: "I 
was first, and the account of it pleased my father prodig- 
iously, who, I was told, was in great health and spirits. 
What, then, was my consternation when in January I received 
an account of his death ! " Most poignant were his suffer- 
ings under this affliction, w^hich led him to God for comfort 
in prayer and Bible stud}^ He says: "I began with the 
Acts, and found m^^self insensibly led to inquire more attent- 
ively into the doctrines of the Apostles." Writing to his 
sister, having announced shortly and with much simplicity 
that his name stood first upon the list at the college examina- 
tion of the summer of 1800, he says : " What a blessing it is 
for me that I have such a sister as you, my dear S., who have 
been so instrumental in keeping me in the right way. After 
the death of our father you know I was extremely low 
spirited, and like most other people began to consider 
seriously without any particular determination, that invisible 
world to w^hich he was gone and to which I must one day go. 
Soon I began to attend more diligently to the words of om^ 
Savior in the New Testament, and to devour them with 



8 LIFE OF IIENllY MxiETYlT. 

delight, when the offers of mercy and forgiveness were made 
so freely ; I supplicated to be made partaker of the covenant 
of grace with eagerness and hope, and thanlvs be to the ever- 
blessed Trinity for not leaving me without comfort." How 
cheering to his sister it must have been to receive at a 
moment of deep sorrow such a communication as this ! IJow 
salutary to his own mind to have possessed so near a relation 
to whom he could thus freely open the workings of his heart. 
At this time he also received great benefit from attendance 
on the faithful ministry of Kev. Charles Simeon, under 
whose pastoral instructions he himself declares that he "grad- 
ually acquired more knowledge in divine things." With this 
excellent man he had the most friendly and unreserved inter- 
course. Mr. Martyn received his first impressions of the 
transcendent excellence of the Christian ministry of Mr. 
Simeon, from which it was but a short step to choose tl-is 
calling for his own, for until now he had intended to devote 
himself to the law " chiefly," he confesses, " because he could 
not consent to be poor for Christ's sake." 

In January, 1801, the highest academical honor, that of 
•• senior wrangler," was awarded to him before the comple- 
tion of his twentieth year. His description of his feelings on 
this occasion is remarkable : "I obtained my highest wishes, 
but was surprised to find that I had grasped a shadow." So 
impossible it is for earthly distinction to fill and satisfy the 
mind. 

In March, 1802, after another rigid examination, Mr. Mar- 
tyn was chosen Fellow of St. Johns, a situation honorable to 
the society and gratifying to himself. Soon after he obtained 
first prize for best Latin prose composition over many com- 
petitors of classical celebrity, and this was the more remark- 
able, as his studies had been almost entirely in mathematics. 



LIFE OF HENKY MAETYN. 



Henry Martyn's attention was called to the great cause 
of Foreign Missions by some remarks of Rev. Mr. Simeon on 
the work of Carey in India, but more particularly by read- 
ing the memoir of David Brainerd, who preached with apos- 
tolic zeal and success to the JSTorth American Indians, and 
who finished a course of self-denying labors for his Redeemer 
with unspeakable joy at the early age of thirty -two. Henry 
Martyn's soul was filled with holy emulation, and after deep 
consideration and fervent prayer he was at length fixed in a 
resolution to imitate his example. E'or let it be conceived 
that he could adopt this resolution without the severest con- 
flict in his mind, for he was endued with the truest sensi- 
bility of heart, and was susceptible of the warmest and ten- 
derest attachments. No one could exceed him in love for 
his country, or in affection for his friends, and few could 
surpass him in an exquisite relish for the various and refined 
enjoyments of a social and literary life. How then could it 
fail of being a moment of extreme anguish when he came to 
the deliberate resolution of leaving forever all he held dear 
upon earth ? But he was fully satisfied that the glory of 
that Savior who loved him and gave Himself for him would 
be promoted by his going forth to preach to the heathen. 
He considered their pitiable and perilous condition; he 
thought on the value of their immortal souls ; he remembered 
the last solemn injunction of his Lord, "Go teach all 
nations," — an injunction never revoked, and commensurate 
with that most encouraging promise, " Lo, I am with you 
alway, even unto the end of the world." Actuated by these 
motives, he offered himself as a missionary to the society for 
Missions, and from that time stood prepared with childlike 
simplicity and unshaken constancy to go to any part of the 
world whither it might be deemed expedient to send him. 



10 LIFE OF HENRY MAETYN. 

In the early part of 1804, Mr. Martyn's plans of becom- 
ing a missionary were dampened by the loss of his slender 
patrimony, and as his sister was also involved in the calamity, 
it appeared hardly justifiable for him to go away. After 
some delay his friends obtained for him the position of chap- 
lain to the East India Company, and so the obstacles which 
detained him were removed. 

The time of the delay was spent in zealous service for his 
divine Master. He was associated with Eev. Mr. Simeon as 
curate and preached with great zeal and unction, often to 
very large audiences, and sometimes with such unsparing 
denunciation of common sins as to awaken opposition. He 
considered it his duty to rebuke iniquity, and on one occasion 
severely reproved a student for shocking levit}^, — reading a 
play with some young ladies while their father lay dying. 
He feared the result of this might be estrangement from bis 
friend, but prayed earnestly that it might lead to his awak- 
ening. This prayer was answered, and afterwards this very 
friend became his beloved associate in missionary work in 
India. 

In very early youth Mr. Martyn became fondly attached 
to a young lady named Lydia Grenfell. She considered her- 
self his superior in social position. The memoirs all speak of 
her as estimable, and we infer from the little that is said 
that she somewhat indifferently accepted Henry Martyn's 
homage, but she did not wholeheartedly and generously 
respond. What a contrast to the beloved and devoted Har- 
riet Jewell, who was not afraid to risk all for Christ, and 
counted not her life dear even unto the death! It was Miss 
Grenfell's greatest honor that Henry Martyn would have 
made her his wife, but she declined the honor, and yet gave 
him encouragement, for their correspondence only ended with 



LIFE OF 11 EXE Y MAKTYN. 11 

his life, and Ms very last writing was a letter to her. He begged 
her with all the eloquence of a lonely and devoted heart to 
come out to him after he had gone to India, arranging every 
detail for her comfort with thoughtful tenderness, and urg- 
ing and encouraging her and lavishing upon her an affection 
that would have crowned and enriched her life. We are left 
to Infer from the history that she did love him in her way, 
but if she had shared his consecration and gone with him and 
taken care of him, and cheered and comforted him, and 
made for him a happy restful home, as some missionary 
wives have done in self-denying foreign fields, what a bless- 
ing she might have been, and her life, how fruitful, and her 
memory, how fragrant ! As it was, she has this distinction, 
that she was Henry Martyn's disappointment and trial and 
discipline. No one less tender and sensitive than Henry 
Martyn can appreciate all he suffered on this account ; but 
he made it, hke all the other great sorrows of his life, a cross 
on which to be crucified with Christ. 

He writes to his dear sister S.: ''When I sometimes offer 
up supplications with strong crying to God to bring down my 
spirit into the dust I endeavor calmly to contemplate the 
infinite majesty of the most high God and my own mean- 
ness and wickedness, or else I quietly tell the Lord, who 
knows the heart, I would give Him all the glory of everything 
if I could. But the most effectual way I have ever found is 
to lead away my thoughts from myself and my OAvn concerns 
by praying for all my friends, for the church, the world, 
the nation, and especially by beseeching that God would 
glorify His own great name by converting all nations to the 
obedience of faith, also by praying that he would put more 
abundant honor on those Christt^ns whom he seems to have 
honored especially, and whom we see to be manifestly our 
superiors." 



12 LIFE OF HENEY MAETYK. 

In spite of Henry Martjn's beautiful humility, honor 
after honor was heaped upon him by his admiring and 
appreciative Alma Mater. Three times he was chosen ex- 
aminer, and discharged the duties of this office with great 
care and faithfulness. 

As the time approaches for his parting from all he holds 
dear, especially the beloved L., our hearts go out to him in 
irrepressible sympathy. He writes, "parted with L. for- 
ever in this life with a sort of uncertain pain which I know 
will increase to greater violence." 

And these forebodings were but too soon reahzed. For 
many succeeding days his mental agony was extreme, yet he 
could speak to God as one who knew the great conflict 
within him. Yet while the waves and billows are going over 
him he writes from these depths, " I never had so clear a con- 
viction of my call as at the present. ISTever did I see so 
much the exceeding excellency and glory and sweetness of 
the work, nor had so much the favorable testimony of my 
own conscience, nor perceived so plainly the smile of God. 
Blessed be God, I feel myself to be His minister. This 
thought which I can hardly describe came in the morning 
after reading Brainerd. I wish for no service but the service 
of God, to labor for souls on earth and to do His will in 
heaven." 



LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 13 



LIFE IN INDIA. 



ON the 17th of July, 1805, the Union East Indiaman con- 
veying Mr. Martyn sailed from Portsmouth. Mr. Mar- 
ty n says : '' Though it was what I had been anxiously look- 
ing forward to so long, yet the consideration of being parted 
forever from my friends, almost overcame me. My feelings 
were those of a man who should suddenly be told that every 
friend he had in the world was dead." 

Though suffering much in mind and body throughout 
the long and tedious voyage of nine months, Mr. Martyn 
seeks no selfish ease. He preaches, reads and labors 
assiduously with officers, passengers and crew, and shuns not 
to declare the whole counsel of God, even the unpalatable 
doctrine of the future punishment of the wicked. He says: 
" The threats and opposition of these men made me willing 
to set before them the truths they hated, yet I had no 
species of hesitation about doing it. They said they would 
not come if so much hell was preached, but I took for my 
text, 'The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the 
nations that forget God.' The officers were all behind my 
back in order to have an opportunity of retiring in case 
of dislike. H., as soon as he heard the text, went back and 
said he would hear no more about hell ; so he employed him- 
self in feeding the geese. However, God I trust blessed 
the sermon to the good of many ; some of the cadets and 
many of the soldiers were in tears. I felt an ardor and 
vehemence in some parts which are unusual with me. After 
service walked the deck with Mrs. ; she spoke Avith so much 



14 LIFE OF HENEY MAETYN". 

simplicity and amiable humility that I was full of joy and 
admiration to God for a sheep brought home to His fold. In 
the afternoon went below intending to read to them at the 
hatchway, but there was not one of them, so I could get 
nothing to do among the poor soldiers." 

What a picture revealing Henry Martyn's character ! — 
the contrasting attributes of sternness and gentleness, 
his martyrlike determination to do his whole duty at any 
cost to himself from suffering and insult, the keen 
shrinking of a nature so refined and sensitive from coarseness 
and abuse, undeviating yet uncompromising, bringing to our 
thoughts the Divine Exemplar. I pass by the incidents of 
the voyage, including mutiny, sickness and death, romantic 
stay at St. Salvador, battles at the Cape of Good Hope, etc., 
eloquently and vividly recorded. 

The Friday preceding his arrival in India he spends 
"in praying that God would no longer delay exerting his 
power in the conversion of the eastern nations. I felt 
emboldened ■ ' he says, " to employ the most familiar petitions 
by Is. xii. 6, 7, ' Keep not silence ; give him no rest,' etc. 
Blessed be God for those words ! They are like a cordial to 
my spirits, because if the Lord is not pleased by me or during 
my lifetime to call the Gentiles, yet He is not offended at 
my being urgent with Him that the kingdom of God may 
come." 

April 21, 1806, the nine months' journey is complete, and 
they land at Madras. Mr. Martyn gives first impressions and 
description of the natives, ending in these words : "In gen- 
eral, one thought naturally occurred : the conversion of their 
poor souls. I am willing, I trust, through grace, to pass my 
life among them if by any means these poor people may be 
brought to God. The sight of men, women and children, all 



LIFE OF HENRY Mi^KTYN. 16 

idolaters, makes me shudder as if in the dominions of the 
prince of darkness. Hearing the nymn, ^ Before Jehovah's 
awful throne, ' it excited a train of affecting thoughts in my 
mind." 

^' Wide as the world is thy command." Therefore it is 
easy for Thee to spead abroad Thy holy name. But oh, how 
gross the darkness here! The veil of the covering cast over 
all nations seems thicker here; the friends of darkness seem 
to sit in sullen repose in this land. What surprises me is the 
change of views I have here from what I had in England. 
There my heart expanded with hope and joy at the prospect 
of the speedy conversion of the heathen; but here the sight 
of the apparent impossibility requires a strong faith to sup- 
port the spirits." Ah, how vividly this describes missionary 
experiences ! After great peril from storm and illness, pass- 
ing up the Hoogly from Madras, Mr. Martyn arrived at 
Calcutta, May 14. In this city for years had been a band of 
English Christians faithfully praying for the coming of the 
kingdom in that dark land, and into the home of one of these, 
Eev. David Brown, was Mr. Martyn received with much 
affection. A pagoda in one end of the yard on the river 
bank was fitted up for him, and the place where once devils 
were worshiped now became a Christian oratory. The 
first experience, here was of severe illness from acclimating 
fever, from which he was kindly nursed into convalesence. 
He then applied hhnself earnestly to the study of the Hin- 
doostanee, having engaged a Brahmin as a teacher. Here 
he witnessed w^ith horror the cruel and debasing rites of 
heathenism. The blaze of a funeral pile caused him one day 
to hasten to the rescue of a burning widow who was con- 
sumed before his eyes. And in a dark w^ood he heard the 
sound of cymbals and drums calling the poor natives to the 



16 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 

worship of devils, and saw them prostrate with their fore- 
heads to the ground before a black image in a pagoda sur- 
rounded with burning lights — a sight which he contemplated 
with overwhelming compassion, " shivering as if standing in 
the neighborhood of hell." 

Mr. Martyn's plain and pungent preaching was a great 
offense to some of the easy-going formalists of the English 
church at Calcutta, and some of the ministry attacked him 
bitterly from their pulpits, declaring, for instance, that to 
affirm repentance to be the gift of God and to teach that 
nature is wholly corrupt, is to drive men to despair, and that 
to suppose the righteousness of Christ sufficient to justify is 
to make it unnecessary to have any of our own. Though 
compelled to listen to such downright heresies, to hear him- 
self described as knowing neither what he said nor whereof 
he affirmed, and as aiming only to gratify self sufficiency, 
pride and uncharitableness, — " I rejoiced," said this meek 
and holy man, " to receive the Lord's supper afterwards ; — 
as the solemnities of that blessed ordinance sweetly tended 
to soothe any asperity of mind, and I think that I adminis- 
tered the cup to and -with sincere good will." 

September 13, 1806, Mr. Martyn received his appoint- 
ment to Singapore. A farewell meeting of great interest was 
held in his pagoda, followed by a tender parting from the 
family who had been so kind to him, and two fellow labor- 
ers who, following his bright example, had just come out 
from England. The voyage to Singapore was performed in a 
budgero, a small boat with a cabin, in which he studied and 
translated and prayed while making the seventeen or 
eighteen miles a day of the six- weeks' journey. At night the 
boat was fastened to the shore. His journal record of these 
days is very interesting and very characteristic. He says : 



LIFE OF HENEY MARTYN. 17 

" October 27. Arrived at Berhampore. In the evening 
walked out to the hospital in which there were 150 Euro- 
pean soldiers sick. I was talking to a man said to be dying, 
when a surgeon entered. I went up and made some apology 
for entering the hospital. It was my old school-fellow 

and townsman, . The remainder of the evening he spent 

with me in my budgero. 

" October 28. Kose very early and was at the hospital 
at daylight. Waited there a long time Avandering up and 
down the wards in hopes of inducing the men to get up and 
assemble, but it was in vain. I left three books with them 
and went away amidst the sneers and titters of the common 
soldiers. Certainly it is one of the greatest crosses I am 
called to bear to take pains to make people hear me. It is 
such a struggle between a sense of propriety and modesty 
on the one hand, and a sense of duty on the other, that I 
find nothing equal to it. I could force my way anywhere, 
in order to introduce a brother minister ; but for myself, I 
act with hesitation and pain. 

" Walking out into a village where the boat stopped for 
the night I found the worshipers of Kali by the sound of 
their drums and cymbals. Invited by the Brahmins to walk 
in I entered and asked a few questions about the idol. The 
Brahmin who spoke bad Hindoostanee disputed with great 
heat, and his tongue ran faster than I could follow, and the 
people, about one hundred, shouted applause. I continued 
my questions and among other things asked if what I had 
heard of Yishnu and Brahma was true, which he confessed, 
I forbore to press him with the consequences, which he seemed 
to feel ; and then I told him what was my belief. The man 
grew quite mild and said it was chula hat (good words), and 
asked me seriously at last what I thought, 'Was idol worship 
3 



18 LIFE OF HENKY MAKTYN. 

true or false ? ' I felt it a matter of thankfulness that I could 
make known the truth of God though a stammerer and that 
1 had declared it in the presence of the devil. And this also I 
learnt, that the power of gentleness is irresistible. I never 
was more astonished than at the change in deportment of 
this hot-headed Brahmin. . . . Came to on the eastern 
bank below a village called Ahgadup. Wherever I walked 
the women fled at the sight of me. Some men were sitting 
under the shed dedicated to their goddess ; a lamp was burn- 
ing in her place. A conversation soon began, but there was 
no one who could speak Hindoostanee. I could only speak 
by the medium of my Mussulman, Musalchee. They said 
that they only did as others did, and that if they were wrong 
then all Bengal was wrong. I felt love for their souls, and 
longed for utterance to declare unto these poor simple people 
the holy gospel. I think that when my mouth is opened I 
shall preach to them day and night. 

" October 31. My Moonshee said, 'How can you prove 
this book (the gospel), to be the word of God ? ' I took him 
to walk with me on the shore that we might discuss the 
matter, and the result of our conversation was that I dis- 
covered that the Mussulmen allow the gospel to be in general 
the command of God, though the words of it are not His as 
the words of the Koran are, and contend that the actual 
words of God given to Jesus were burnt by the Jews ; that 
they also admit the New Testament to have been in force 
till the coming of Mohammed. When I quoted some pas- 
sages which proved the Christian dispensation to be the final 
one, he allowed it to be inconsistent with the divinity of the 
Koran, but said, ' Then those words of the gospel must be 
false.' The man argued and asked his questions seemingly 
in earnest, and another new impression was left upon my 



LIFE OF HENRY MAETYN. 19 

mind, namely, that these men are not fools and that all inge- 
nuity and clearness of reasoning are not confined to England 
and Europe. I seem to feel that these descendants of Ham 
are as dear to God as the haughty sons of Japheth; I feel, too, 
more at home with the Scriptures than ever ; everything I see 
gives light to, and receives it from, the Scriptures. I seem 
transported back to the ancient times of the Israelites and 
the Apostles. My spirit felt composed after the dispute by 
simply looking to God as one who had engaged to support 
His own cause ; and I saw it to be my part to pursue my way 
through the wilderness of this world, looking only to that 
redemption which daily draweth nigh. How should this 
consideration quell the tumult of anger and impatience when 
I cannot convince men ' the government is on His shoulders ? ' 
Jesus is able to bear the weight of it ; therefore we need not 
be oppressed with care or fear, but a missionary is apt to 
fancy himself an Atlas. 

" ]N"ovember 2. Walking on shore met a large party. I 
asked if any of them could read. One young man who 
seemed superior in rank to the rest, said he could, and accord- 
ingly read some of the only J^agree tract that I had. I then 
addressed myself boldly to them and told them of the gos- 
pel. When speaking of the inefficacy of the religious prac- 
tices of the Hindoos I mentioned as an example the repeti- 
tion of the name of Eam. The young man assented to this 
and said, ^' of what use is it ? " As he seemed to be of a pen- 
sive turn and said this with marks of disgust, I gave him a 
I^agree Testament, the first I have given. May God's bless- 
ing go along with it and cause the eyes of the multitudes to be 
opened. The men said they should be glad to receive tracts, 
so I sent them back a considerable number. The idea of 
printing the parables in proper order with a short explana- 



20 LIFE OF HENBY MAKTYN. 

tion to each, for the- purpose of distribution and as school 
books, suggested itself to me to-night and delighted me pro- 
digiously. ... A Mussulman, when he received one of the 
tracts and found what it was, was greatly alarmed, and after 
many awkward apologies, returned it, saying that ^a man 
who had his legs in two different boats, was in danger of 
sinking between them.' " 

Established at Singapore, Mr. Martyn began upon three 
different lines of work, estabhshing schools, attaining readi- 
ness in Hindoostanee so as to preach the gospel in that lan- 
guage, and translating the Scriptures and religious books. 
To his great discouragement he was informed by the Pundit 
that every four miles the language changed, so that a book 
in the dialect of one district would be unintelligible to the 
people of another. Being advised to learn Sanscrit, he took 
up this language with great zeal. The commencement of 
Mr. Martyn's ministry amongst the Europeans of Singapore 
was not of such a kind as to either gratify or encourage him. 
At first he read prayers to the soldiers at the barracks from 
the drumhead, and as there were no seats provided, was 
desired to omit the sermon. Afterwards more decent 
arrangements being made, the famihes came in ; but taking 
offense at his evangelical plainness, they asked that he should 
desist from extempore preaching. These European members 
of his flock were jealous and angry at his constant efforts for 
the salvation of the heathen natives. They thought it much 
beneath the dignity of an English chaplain to care for these 
degraded souls. Some of Mr. Martyn's duties as chaplain 
were exceedingly onerous. On several occasions he was sum- 
moned to distant places involving long and dangerous jour- 
neys to perfonn a marriage ceremony. On these journeys he 
suffered severely, and they were a great draft upon his very 



• LIFE OF HENKY MAKTYN. 21 

delicate health ; always weak and languid, and often alarm- 
ingly disordered. Yet through all he continued to labor 
incessantly. Every Sabbath he held at least four services : at 
7 for Europeans ; at 2 for Hindoos, about two hundred in 
attendance ; in the afternoon at the hospital ; in the evening 
in his own room for the soldiers. In his household were two 
natives who assisted in his studies and translations, the Moon- 
shee and the Pundit, with whom he held long disputes and 
with whom he labored daily, though unsuccessfully, to bring 
them to faith in Christ. He says, "translating the epistle of 
St. John with the Moonshee, I asked him what he thought 
of those passages which so strongly express the doctrines of 
the Trinity and of the divinity of Christ. He said he never 
would believe it, because the Koran declared it sinful to say 
that God had any Son. I told him that he ought to pray 
that God would teach him what the truth really is. He said 
he had no occasion on this subject, as the word of God was 
express. I asked him whether some doubt ought not to arise 
in his mind whether the Koran is the word of God. He 
grew angry, and I felt hurt and vexed. I should have done 
better to have left the words of the chapter with him with- 
out saying an3rthing. I went also too far with the Pundit in 
arguing against his superstition, for he also grew angry." H 
any qualification seems necessary to a missionary in India it 
is wisdom — operating in the regulation of the temper and the 
due improvement of opportunities. Mr. Martyn needed the 
heavenly gift of wisdom also in the management of his native 
schools, five or six of which were supported by himself in 
Singapore. Little by httle he succeeded in introducing as a 
text-book a part of the Bible — his own translation of the 
sermon on the Mount and the Parables. He was called to do 
more and more of this work of translating the ScriptureSj 



2^ LIFE OF HENKY MARTYN. 

and was persuaded by the Kev. David Brown not only to 
continue the Hindoostanee, but to superintend the translation 
of the Scriptures into Persian. He engaged in it at once 
with zeal. He writes : " The time fled imperceptibly w^hile 
so delightfully engaged in the translations ; the days seemed 
to have passed like a moment. What do I not owe to the 
Lord for permitting me to take part in a translation of His 
word? JSTever did I see such wonder and wisdom and love 
in the blessed Book as since I have been obliged to study 
every expression. Employed a good while at night in con- 
sidering a difficult passage, and being much enlightened 
respecting it, I went to bed full of astonishment at the won- 
der of God's Word. jN'ever before did I see anything of the 
beauty of the language and the importance of the thoughts 
as I do now. What a source of perpetual delight have I in 
the precious Word of God ! '^ 

This ecstacy of enthusiasm in most successful and conge- 
nial labor was suddenly dashed by a great wave of sorrow 
which came to Mr. Marty n in the news of the death of his 
eldest sister. To missionaries in foreign lands such news is 
especially bitter, and to recover from such a shock and sense 
of irreparable loss seems almost impossible. The mind, 
unsatisfied with details of the sad event, is left in shadow 
which deepens into heavy gloom. Mr. Martyn was all alone 
and felt it keenly and inexpressibly. Some of his most inti- 
mate and sympathetic friends at this time, realizing how it 
was not good for him to be alone, encouraged him to renew his 
matrimonial offer to his ever beloved L. After her refusal 
he says, '' The Lord sanctify this, and since this last desire of 
my heart is also withheld may I turn away forever from the 
world and henceforth live forgetful of all but God. With 
Thee, my God, is no disappointment. I shall never have to 



LIFE OF HET^TRY MARTYN. 23 

regret that I have loved Thee too well. Thou hast said, 
' delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee the 
desires of thy heart.' " 

Could sweeter words than these be expressed in any 
language! Could greater depths of submission or 
heights of consecration be attained ! They deserve to be 
recorded on imperishable marble or blazoned on the sky in 
sight of all, and received as the confession of every Christian 
heart, to the honor and praise of Him who gave such glori- 
ous victory to this tried soldier of the cross. 

Providentially for Mr. Martyn's comfort his thoughts 
were much occupied after this by the arrival of his coadju- 
tors in the work of translation, one of these, Mirza of 
Benares, well known in India as an eminent Hindoostanee 
scholar; the other Sabat the Arabian, since but too well 
known both in India and England by his rejection of that 
faith which he then appeared to profess in sincerity and faith. 
In the latter of these Mr. Martyn confidently trusted that 
he had found a Christian brother with respect to the reality 
of his belief in Christianity, although Mr. Martyn imme- 
diately discovered in him an unsubdued Arab spirit, and 
witnessed with pain many deflections from that temper and 
conduct which he himself so eminently exemplified ; yet, 
he could not but "believe all things and hope all things," 
even while he continued to suffer much from him, and for a 
length of time, with unparalleled forbearance and kindness.'- 
Sabat's temper was a continual trial and mortification. The 
very first Sabbath in Singapore, imagining he was not treated 
with sufiicient dignity, he left the church before service in great 
anger. Often in the midst of the translation he would come 
to a sudden stop and refuse to go on for the most trivial 
reasons, sometimes for fear that Mirza who would review the 



21 LIFE OF HENEY MAETYN. 

work might have part of the honor. About this time Mr. 
Martyn was much bereaved by the removal of a family with 
whom he had hved in intimate terms of Christian intercourse. 
" This separation affected him the more sensibly because it 
was not in every family at that station that he met with a 
kind and cordial reception." He says, " I called on one of 
the Singapore families, and felt my pride rise at the uncivil 
manner in which I was received. I was disposed at first to 
determine never to visit the house again, but I remembered 
the words, ' overcome evil with good.' " 

In the month of March, 1808, the New Testament in Hin- 
doostanee w^as completed. He says, " I have read and cor- 
rected the manuscript till my eyes ache ; such a week of 
labor I believe I have never passed. The heat is terrible, often 
at 98 degrees, the nights insupportable." We next hear of 
Mr. Martyn suffering from severe illness with fever and ver- 
tigo, and pained with the thought of leaving the Persian 
gospels unfinished ! So unselfish, so full of zeal ! Again at 
work, mercury at 102 degrees. " Arabic now employs my few 
moments of leisure. In consequence of reading the Koran 
with Sabat audibly, and drinking no wine, the slander has 
gone forth that the Singapore Padre has turned Mussulman. 

" June 6th. To-day we have completed the Persian of St. 
Matthew. Sabat desired me to kneel down to bless God for 
the happy event, and we joined in praise of the Father of 
lights. It is a superb performance in every respect, with 
elegance enough to attract the careless and please the fas- 
tidious ; it contains enough of Eternal Life to save the reader's 
soul. . . . My services on the Lord's day always leave 
me with a pain in the chest, and such a great degree of 
general relaxation, that I seldom recover it till Tuesday. The 
society still meet every night at my quarters, and though we 



LIFE OF HENEY MAETYN. 25 

have lost many by death, others are raised up in their room. 
One officer, a lieutenant, is also given to me, and he is not 
only a brother beloved, but a constant companion and nurse ; 
so you must feel no apprehension that I should be left alone 
in sickness." 

In April, 1809, Mr. Martyn removes from Dinapore to 
Cawnpore. Here he met friendship and hospitality. We 
quote from the graceful pen of Mrs. Sherwood : " The month 
of April in the upper provinces of Hindoostan is one of the 
most dreadful months for traveling throughout the year; 
indeed, no European at that time can remove from place to 
place, but at the risk of his life. 

" But Mr. Martyn had that anxiety to begin the work which 
his heavenly Father had given him to do, that notwithstand- 
the violent heat, he traveled from Chunar to Cawnpore, the 
space of about four hundred miles. At that time as I well 
remember, the air was as hot and dry as that which I have 
sometimes felt near the mouth of a large oven, no friendly 
cloud or verdant carpet of grass to relieve the eye from the 
strong glare of the rays of the sun pouring on the sandy 
plains of the Ganges. Thus Mr. Martyn traveled, journeying 
night and day, and arrived at Cawnpore in such a state that 
he fainted away as soon as he entered the house. When we 
charged him with the rashness of hazarding his life in this man- 
ner, he always pleaded his anxiety to get to the great work. 
He remained with us ten days, suffering considerably at times 
from fever and pain in the chest. 

"Mr. Martyn's removal from Dinapore to Cawnpore 
was to him in many respects a very unpleasant arrangement. 
He was several hundred miles farther distant from Calcutta 
and more widely separated than before from his friend Mr. 
Corrie. He had new acquaintances to form at his new abode. 



26 LIFE OF HENRY MAETYN. 

and after having with much difficulty procured the erection of 
a church at Dinapore he was transported to a spot where 
none of the conveniences, much less the decencies and solem- 
nities of public worship, were visible. 

" We find him soon after he arrived there preaching to a 
thousand soldiers drawn up in a hollow square, when the 
heat was so great, although the sun had not risen, that many 
actually dropped down, unable to support it." 

Yet Mr. Martyn's labors were not abated. Every Sabbath 
at dawn were prayers and sermon with the regiment, and 
again at eleven at the house of the general of the station. 
In the afternoon he preached to a crowd of poor natives, five, 
to eight hundred, rude, noisy, wretched beggars, for whose 
souls he felt a tender care. Again in the evening, the best 
of the day, he had a meeting with the more devout of his 
flock. These ministrations so earnestly performed were most 
exhausting, yet he knew not how to forego them; at this 
time, too, from England came the sad and sudden news of the 
death of his sister, the one who had led him to Christ. 

The alarming state of his health made some change neces- 
sary, and Mr. Martyn was urged to leave India and make 
trial of a sea voyage. His Persian New Testament had been 
criticised as unfit for general circulation, being written in a 
style too learned and exalted for the comprehension of the 
common people. He was advised to visit Persia and there 
revise his work and also complete his version in Arabic, almost 
finished. Mr. Brown, his devoted friend, and the Calcutta 
agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, thus writes : 
"Can I then bring myself to cut the string and let you go? 
I confess I could not if your bodily frame were strong, and 
promised to last for half a century. But as you burn with 
the intenseness and rapid blaze of heated phosphorus, why 



LIFE OF HENRY MARTTK. ' 27 

should we not make the most of you? Your flame may last 
as long and perhaps longer in Arabia, than in India. Where 
should the Phoenix build her odoriferous nest, but in the 
land prophetically called ' the blessed V and where shall we 
ever expect, but from that country, the true Comforter to 
come to the nations of the East ? I contemplate your New 
Testament springing up, as it were, from dust and ashes, but 
beautiful as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and his 
feathers like yellow gold." His farewell services at Cawn- 
pore were very tender and affecting, both with his great audi- 
ence of natives and Englishmen. Of the latter, Mrs. Sher- 
wood says : ^'He began in a weak and faint voice, being at 
that time in a very bad state of health ; but, gathering 
strength as he proceeded, he seemed as one inspired from on 
high. J^ever was an audience more affected. The next day 
this holy and heavenly man left Cawnpore and the society of 
many who sincerely loved and admired him." Stopping to 
visit the friends in Calcutta, the Kev. Mr. Thomason says: 
" This bright and lovely jewel first gratified our eyes on Sat- 
urday last. He is on his w^ay to Arabia, where he is going in 
pursuit of health and knowledge. You know his genius, and 
what gigantic strides he takes in everything. He has some 
great plan in his mind, of which I am no competent judge ; 
but as far as I do understand it, the object is far too grand 
for one short life, and much beyond his feeble and exhausted 
frame. Feeble it is, indeed ; how fallen and changed ! His 
complaint lies in his lungs and appears to be an incipient con- 
sumption. But let us hope the sea air may revive him, and 
that change may do him essential service and continue his 
life many years. In all other respects he is exactly the same 
as he w^as ; he shines in all the dignity of love, and seems to 
carry about him such a heavenly majesty as impresses the 



28 LIFE OF HENEY MAETYN. 

mind beyond description. But if he talks much, though i*, 
a low voice, he sinks, and you are reminded of his being dusi 
and ashes." Though so infirm, Mr. Martyn preached every 
Sabbath of his visit, and his last sermon on the anniversary 
of the Calcutta Bible Society was afterwards printed and 
entitled " Christian India, or an appeal on behalf of nine 
hundred thousand Christians in India whg want the Bible." 



LIFE OF HENKY MARTYN. 



LIFE IN PERSIA. 



FROM this time a change comes over Mr. Mar- 
ty n's varied life. We have seen him the successful 
candidate for academical distinctions — the faithful and labo- 
rious pastor — the self-denying and devoted missionary — the 
indefatigable translator — the preacher of the gospel to the 
heathen; we are now called to admire in him the coura- 
geous spirit of the Christian confessor. 

He says, on his voyage towards Persia : " All down the 
Bay of Bengal I could do nothing but sit listless, viewing 
the wide waste of water, a sight that would have been beau- 
tiful had I been well. In my Hebrew researches I scarcely 
ever felt so discouraged. All the knowledge I thought I 
had acquired became uncertain, and consequently I was 
unhappy. It was in vain that I reflected that thousands live 
and die happy without such knowledge as I am in search of. 

" Proposed family prayer everj^ night in the cabin — no 
objection was made. 

'^February 18, anchored off Bombay. This day I fin- 
ished the thirtieth year of my unprofitable life, the age at 
which David Brainerd finished his course. I am now at the 
the age at which the Savior of men began his ministry, and 
and at which John the Baptist called a nation to repentance. 
Hitherto I have made my youth and insignificance an excuse 
for sloth and imbecility, now let me have a character and 
act boldly for God. 

" March 5. Feerog, a Parsee who is considered the most 



30 LIFE OF HENKY MAKTYN. 

learned man here, called to converse about religion. He 
spoke Persian and seemed familiar with Arabic. He began by 
saying ' that no one religion had more evidences of its truth 
than another, for that all the miracles of the respective 
founders depended upon tradition. This I denied. He 
acknowledged that the writer of the Zendavesta was not 
cotemporary with Zoroaster. After disputing and raising 
objections he was left without an answer, but continued to 
cavil. ' Why' said he, ' did the Magi see the star in the East 
and none else ? from what part of the East did they come ? 
and how was it possible that their king should come to 
Jerusalem in seven days ? ' The last piece of information he 
had from the Armenians. I asked him whether he had any 
thoughts of changing his rehgion. He replied with a con- 
temptuous smile, ' 'No, every man is safe in his own religion.' 
I asked him, 'What sinners must do to obtain pardon?' 
'Kepent,' said he. I asked, 'Would repentance satisfy a 
creditor or a judge ? ' ' Why, is it not said in the gospel,' 
rejoined he, ' that we must repent ? ' I replied, ' It cannot be 
proved from the gospel that repentance alone is sufficient, or 
good works, or both.' ' Where then is the glory of salva- 
tion ? ' he said; I replied, ' In the atonement of Christ.' ' All 
this ' said he, ' I know, but so the Mohammedans say, that 
Hosyn was an atonement for the sins of men.' He then 
began to criticise the translations he saw on the table. 

"April 23. Moscat, Arabia. Went on shore and met the 
Yizier. His African slave argued with me for Mohammed 
and did not know how to let me go, he was so interested in 
the business." 

"April 25. Gave him an Arabic copy of the gospel, 
which he at once began to read, and carried it off as a great 
prize, which I hope he will find it to be." 



LIFE OF HENEY MARTYN. 31 

" Bushire, Persia. Called on the governor, a Persian Khan. 
He was very particular in Jiis attentions. Seated me on his 
own seat and then sat by my side. After the usual saluta- 
tions and inqumes the calean (pipe), was introduced, then 
coffee in china cups placed within silver ones, then calean, 
then some rose-water syrup, then calean. Observing the 
windows of stained glass, I began to question him about the 
art of coloring glass, observing that the modern Europeans 
were inferior to the ancient in the manufacture of the article. 
He expressed his surprise that Europeans, who were so skill- 
ful in making watches, should fail in any handicraft work. 
I could not help recollecting the Emperor of China's sarcastic 
remark on the Europeans and their arts, and therefore dropped 
the subject. On his calean — I called it hookah at first, but 
he did not understand me — I noticed several little paintings 
of the Virgin and child, and asked him whether'such things 
were not unlawful among Mohammedans. He answered 
very coolly 'Yes,' as much as to say. 'What then?' I 
lamented that the Eastern Christians should use such things 
in their churches. He repeated the words of a good man 
who was found fault with for having an image before him 
while at prayer, " God is nearer to me than that image, so 
that I do not see it." This man, I afterwards found, is like 
most of the other grandees of the East, a murderer. 

" On the 30th of May, our Persian dresses were ready, 
and we set out for Shiraz. The Persian dress consists of 
first, stockings and shoes in one ; next, a pair of large blue 
trousers, or else a pair of huge red boots; then the shirt, then 
the tunic, and above it the coat, both of chintz, and a great 
coat. I have here described my own dress, most of which I 
have on at tliis moment. On the head is worn an enormous 
cone made of the skin of the black Tartar sheep with the 



32 LIFE OF HENEY MARTYN. 

wool on. If to this description of my dress I add that my 
beard and mustachios have been suffered to vegetate undis- 
turbed ever since I left India ; that I am sitting on a Persian 
carpet, in a room without tables or chairs, and that I bury my 
hand in the pillar (rice), without waiting for spoon or plate, 
you will give me credit for being already an accomplished 
Oriental. 

" At ten o'clock on the 30th our califa began to move. 
It consisted chiefly of mules with a few horses. I wished to 
have a mule, but the muleteer favored me with his own pony ; 
this animal had a beU fastened to its neck. To add solemnity 
to the scene, a Bombay trumpeter who was going to join the 
embassy was directed to blow a blast as we moved off the 
ground ; but whether it was that the trumpeter was not an 
adept in the science or that his instrument was out of order, 
the crazy sounds that saluted our ears had a ludicrous effect. 
At last, after some jostling, mutual recriminations and 
recalcitrating of the steeds, we each found our places and 
moved out of the gate of the city in good order. The resi- 
dents accompanied us a Httle way, and then left us to pursue 
our journey over the plain. It was a fine moonlight night, 
the scene new and perfectly oriental, and nothing prevented 
me from indulging my own reflections. As the night 
advanced the califa grew quiet; on a sudden one of the mule- 
teers began to sing, and sang in a voice so plaintive that it 
was impossible not to have one's attention arrested. Every 
voice was hushed. 

" These were the words translated : 

Think not that e'er my heart could dwell 

Contented far from thee, 
How can the fresh-caught nightingale 

Enjoy tranquility? 



LIFE OF HENEY MARTYN. 33 

Oh, then forsake thy friend for naught 

That slanderous tongues can say, 
The heart that fixeth where it ought 

No power can rend away. 

" Thus far our journey was agreeable. Now for miseries. 
At sunrise we came to our ground at Ahmedu, six parasangs, 
and pitched our httle tent under a tree ; it was the only shel- 
ter we could get. At first the heat was not greater than we 
had felt in India, but it soon became so intense as to be quite 
alarming. When the thermometer was above 112^, fever 
heat, I began to lose my strength fast ; at last it became 
quite intolerable. I wrapped myself up in a blanket and all 
the warm covering I could get to defend myself from the 
external air, by which means the moisture was kept a httle 
longer upon the body, and not so speedily evaporated as 
when the skin was exposed. One of my companions followed 
my exanriple and found the benefit of it. But the thermom- 
eter still rising, and the moisture of the body being quite 
exhausted, I grew restless and thought I should have lost my 
senses. The thermometer at last stood at 126^. In this 
state I composed myself and concluded that, though I might 
hold out but a day or two, death was inevitable. Captain 
continued to tell the hour and heights of the ther- 
mometer, and with pleasure we heard of it sinking to 120^, 
118^, etc. At last the fierce sun retired and I crept out more 
dead than alive. The next day we secured some comfort 
from a large wet towel wrapped about the head and body. 
At sunset, rising to go out^ a scorpion fell upon my clothes. 
The night before we found a black scorpion in our tent, that 
made us uneasy, so we got no sleep." 

June 9 Mr. Marty n arrived at Shiraz, the celebrated seat 
of Persian literature, and at once began work upon his trans- 
3 



34 LIFE OF HENRY MABTYN. 

lation with the efficient help of Mirza Seid All Khan. In 
this work he had many interruptions, being himself an object 
of attention and curiosity. He received many calls, and 
unwilling to lose any opportunity of benefiting the inhab- 
itants of Shiraz, was never inaccessible to them. He says, 
June 17, in the evening, Seid Ali came with two Moollahs, 
and with them I had a very long and temperate discussion. 
One of them read the beginning of John in Arabic and 
inquired very particularly into our opinions respecting the 
person of Christ, and when he was informed that we did not 
consider His human nature eternal nor His mother divine, 
seemed quite satisfied, and remarked to the others, 'how 
much misapprehension is removed when people come to an 
explanation.' ^' 

"June 22. The Prince's secretary called to talk about 
Soofeeism. They believe they knovv^ not what. He thought 
to excite my wonder by telling me that I and every created 
being was God. 

" June 26. Two young men from the college came, full of 
zeal and logic, to try me with hard questions such as, 
whether being be but one or two ? What is the state and 
form of disembodied spirits ? and other foolish and unlearned 
questions nainistering strife. At last, one of them discovered 
the true cause of his coming by asking me bluntly to bring 
a proof of the religion of Christ. You allow the divine mis- 
sion of Christ, said I, why need I prove it ? Not being able 
to draw me into an argument they said what they wished 
to say, namely, that I had no other proof for the miracles 
of Christ than they had for those of Mohammed, which is 
tradition. ' Softly' I said, ' You will be pleased to observe a 
difference between your books and ours, when by tradition 
we have reached our several books, our narrators were eye 
witnesses ; yours are not, nor nearly so.' 



LIFE OF HENKY MAETTN. 35 

" In the evening Seid Ali asked me the cause of evil. I 
said I knew nothing about it. He thought he could tell 
me, so I let him reason on till he soon found he knew as ht- 
tle about the matter as myself. He wanted to prove that 
there was no real difference between good and evil ; that it 
was only apparent. I observed that the difference, if only 
apparent, was the cause of a great deal of misery. 

" June 30, Sunday. ^ Preached to the Ambassador's suite 
on the *' Faithful Saying."* In the evening baptized his child. 
Zachariah told me this morning that I was the town talk.' 
Indeed Shiraz was stirred to its depth by the presence of 
Mr. Martyn during the whole year of his stay. Men of every 
kind, especially the learned and zealous, came singly and in 
groups almost every day to argue and dispute against Christ. 
Now it was a party of Armenians, now learned Jews, now a 
prince, now a general, now the very Moojtuhid himself, the 
professor of Mohammedan law. This great dignitary in- 
vited Mr. Martyn to his house, where for hours he talked on 
and on, defending his Prophet and showing his learning ; he 
was greatly annoyed at any difference of opinion, and 
decided it]was " quite useless for Mohammedans and Chris- 
tians to argue together, as they had different languages and 
different histories." But fearing Mr. Martyn's influence he 
was stirred to write a defense* of his faith, which was said 
to surpass all former treatises on Islam. He concludes it in 
these words, addressed to Mr. Martyn : " Oh, thou that art 
wise ! consider with the eye of justice, since thou hast no 
excuse to offer to God. Thou hast wished to see the truth 
of miracles. We desire you to look at the great Koran : 
that is an everlasting miracle." Mr. Martyn replied, show- 
ing why men are bound to reject Mohammedanism; that 
Mohammed was foretold by no prophet, worked no miracles, 



36 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 

spread his religion by means merely human, appeals to man's 
lowest and sensual nature, that he was ambitious for himself 
and family, that the Koran is full of absurdities and contra- 
dictions, that it contains a method of salvation wholly ineffi- 
cacious, sadly contrasting with the divine atonement of Jesus 
Christ. The Prince's nephew, hearing of the attack on 
Mohammed, said, "the proper answer to it is the sword." 

Mr. Marty n writes, February 8 : " This is my birthday, on 
which I complete my thu'ty-first year. The Persian E'ew 
Testament has been begun and finished in it. Such a painful 
year I never passed, owing to the privations I have been 
called to, on the one hand, and the spectacle before me of 
human depravity on the other. But I hope I have not come 
to this seat of Satan in vain. The Word of God has found its 
way into Persia, and it is not in Satan^s power to oppose its 
progress if tlie Lord hath sent it." 

The Psalms in Persian was finished by the middle of 
March. 

On the 23d Mr. Martyn writes : " I called on the Yizier. 
In the court where he received me, Mirza Ibraheem was lec- 
turing. Finding myself so near my old and respectable 
antagonist, I expressed a wish to see him, on which Jaffier 
Ali Khan went up to ascertain if my visit would be agreeable. 
The master consented, but some of the disciples demurred. 
At last, one of them, observing that by the blessing of God 
on the master's conversation I might possibly be converted, 
it was agreed that I should be invited to ascend. Then it 
became a question Tvhere I ought to sit. Below all would 
not be respectful to a stranger, but above all the Moollahs 
could not be tolerated. I entered and was surprised at the 
numbers. The room was lined with Moollahs on both sides 
and at the top. I was about to sit down on the floor but 



LIFE OF HENRY MAETYN. S7 

was beckoned to an empty place near the top, opposite to the 
master, who, after the usual compliments, mthout further 
ceremony, asked me, ' What we meant by calling Christ, 
God ? ' War being thus unequivocally declared, I had nothing 
to do but stand upon the defensive. Mu^za Ibraheem argued 
temperately enough; but of the rest, some were very violent 
and clamorous. The former asked ' if Christ had ever called 
himself God — was he the Creator or a creatm'e?' I replied, 
' The Creator.' The MooUahs looked at one another. Such 
a confession had never before been heard among the Moham- 
medan doctors. 

" One Moollah wanted to controvert some of my illustra- 
tions by interrogating me about the personality of Christ. 
To all his questions I rephed by requesting the same informa- 
tion respecting his own person. To another, who was rather 
contemptuous and violent, I said ' If you do not approve of 
our doctrine^ vdVL you be so good as to say what God is, 
according to you, that I may worship a proper object V One 
said, ' the author of the universe.' ' I can form no idea from 
these words,' said I, 'but of a workman at work upon a vast 
number of materials. Is that a correct notion ? ' Another said, 
' One who came of liimself into being.' ' So then he came,' I 
replied, ' out of one place into another, and before he came 
he was not. Is this an abstract and refined notion ? ' After this 
no one asked me any more questions, and for fear the dispute 
should be renewed Jafiier Ali Khan carried me away." 

When we think of the bigotry and intolerence of these 
people and of Mr. Martyn's unflinching courage single-handed 
and alone, declaring the truth and preaching Christ, exposed 
to the greatest personal danger, contempt and insult, but 
unabashed, he stands before the world during his Shiraz resi- 
dence as one of the bravest and grandest heroes that has ever 



88 LIFE OF HENRY MAETYN. 

lived. Such a spectacle is thrilling and sublime. God was 
with him to protect him and to inspire his magnificent con- 
fessions. A figure-head in history ! A sight for angels and 
for men ! 

Faithful found 
Among the faithless, faithful only he, 
Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, 
His loyalty he kept, his zeal, his love. 

And God was with him to cheer and comfort, and we 
rejoice to know that some of the scenes of his life in Shiraz 
were quiet and restful. At one time a tent was pitched for him 
in a garden in the suburbs of the city. 

Living amidst clusters of grapes by the side of a clear 
stream and frequently sitting under the shade of an orange 
tree, which Jaffier Ali Khan delighted to point out to visitors, 
until the day of his own departure, he passed many a tran- 
quil hour, and enjoyed many a Sabbath of holy rest and 
divine refreshment. 

He says : " Passed some days at Jafiier Ali Khan's garden 
with Mirza Seid Ali, Aga Baba, Sheikh Abul Ilassam, read- 
ing at their request the Old Testament histories. Their 
attention to the word and their love and respect for me 
seemed to increase as the time for my departure approached. 
Aga Baba, who had been reading St. Matthew, related very 
circumstantially to the company the particulars of the death 
of Christ. The bed of roses on which we sat and the notes 
of the nightingales warbling around us, were not so sweet to 
me as this discourse from the Persian." 

The plain of Shiraz is covered with ancient ruins, and 
contains the tombs of the poets Zaadi and Hafiz. 

A vision of the bright Shiraz, of Persian bards the theme; 
The vine with bunches laden hangs o'er the crystal stream; 
The nightingale all day her notes in rosy thicket trills. 
And the brooding heat-mist faintly lies along the distant hills. 



LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 39 

About the plain are scattered wide in many a crumbling heap, 
The fanes of other days, and tombs where Iran's poets sleep; 
And in the midst, like burnished gems, in noonday light repose 
The minarets of bright Shiraz, — the City of the Rose. 

One group beside the river bank in rapt discourse are seen. 
Where hangs the golden orange on its boughs of purest green; 
. Their words are sweet and low, and their looks are lit with joy, 
Some holy blessing seems to rest on them and their employ. 

The pale-faced Frank among them sits; what brought him from afar? 
Nor bears he bales of merchandise, nor teaches skill in war; 
One pearl alone he brings with him — the Book of life and death, — 
One warfare only teaches he, — to fight the fight of faith. 

And Iran's sons are round him, and one with solemn tone 

Tells how the Lord of Glory was rejected by his own; 

Tells from the wondrous gospel of the trial and the doom, — 

The words divine of .love and might, — the scourge, the cross, the tomb 

Far sweeter to the stranger's ear these eastern accents sound. 
Than music of the nightingale that fills the air around; 
Lovelier than balmiest odors sent from gardens of the rose. 
The fragrance from the contrite soul and chastened lip that flows. 

The nightingales have ceased to sing, the roses' leaves are shed. 
The Frank's pale face in Tocat's field hath mouldered with the dead; 
Alone and all unfriended midst his Master's work he fell. 
With none to bathe his fevered brow, with none his tale to tell. 

But still those sweet and solemd tones about him sound in bliss. 
And fragrance from those flowers of God forevermore is his; 
For his the meed, by grace, of those who rich in zeal and love, 
Turn many unto righteousness, and shine as stars above. 

1851. —Henry Alford. 

On the 24:th of May, after a year's residence, Mr. Martyn 
left Shiraz, bearing his precious translation to be presented 
to the Shah. The journey was an occasion of disappoint- 
ment, exposure and suffering. 

Arrived at the Shah's camp he says: ^'June 12th, 
attended the Yizier's levee, when there was a most intemper- 



40 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 

ate and clamorous controversy kept up for an hour or two, 
eight or ten on one side, and I on the other. Amongst them 
were two Mooliahs, the most ignorant of any I have met in 
Persia or India. It would be impossible to enumerate all 
the absurd things they said. Their vulgarity in interrupt- 
ing me in the middle of a speech, their utter ignorance of 
the nature of an argument, their impudent assertions about 
the law and the gospel, neither of which they had ever seen 
in their lives, moved my indignation. The Yizier said, ' You 
had better say, God is God and Mohammed is the prophet of 
God.' I said, ^ God is God,' but added,finstead of ' Moham- 
med is the prophet of God,' ' Jesus is the Son of God.' They 
had no sooner heard this, which I bad avoided bringing for- 
ward till then, than they all exclaimed in contempt and 
anger, ^ He is neither born nor begets,' and rose up as if they 
would have torn me in pieces. One of them said, 'What 
will you say when your tongue is burnt out for this blas- 
phemy ? ' 

My book which I had brought, expecting to present it to 
the king, lay before Mirza Shufi. As they aU rose up after 
him to go, some to the king, and some away, I was afraid 
they would trample upon the book ; so I went in among them 
to take it up, and wrapped it in a towel before them, wliile 
they looked* at it and me with supreme contempt. Thus I 
walked away alone to my tent to pass the rest of the day in 
heat and dirt. What have I done, thought I, to merit all this 
scorn ? Nothing, I trust, but bearing testimony to Jesus. I 
thought over these things in prayer and found the peace 
which Christ hath promised. To complete the trials of the 
day a messenger came from the Yizier in the evening to say 
that it was the custom of the king not to see any English- 
man unless presented by the ambassador or accredited by a 



LIFE OF HENRY MAETYN. 41 

letter from him, and that I must therefore wait till the king 
reached Sultania, where the ambassador would be. 

Traveling toward Tabriz he writes, June 22: "Met with 
the usual insulting treatment at the caravansarai when the 
king's servant had got possession of a good room built for the 
reception of the better order of guests; they seemed to 
delight in the opportunity of humbling a European — all 
along the road when the king is expected the people are 
patiently waiting as for some dreadful disaster ; plague, pes- 
tilence or famine are nothing to the misery of being subject 
to the violence and extortion of this rabble soldiery. 

" June 26. Have eaten nothing now for two days. My 
mind much disordered from headache and giddiness ; — but 
my heart is with Christ and His saints. 

'' June 27. Passed the third day in the same exhausted 
state, my head tortured with shocking pains, such as, together 
with the horror I felt at being exposed to the sun, showed 
me plainly to what to ascribe my sickness." 

Thus in great illness and suffering Mr. Martyn reached 
Tabriz, and was nursed through a fever of two month's con- 
tinuance at the ambassador's residence. This defeated his 
plan of presenting the Persian ISTew Testament to the king — 
but it was afterwards done by Sir Gore Ouseley himself, and 
pubhcly received the royal approbation, and still later was 
printed in St. Petersburg. 

On leaving Cawnpore, Mr. Martyn had intended return- 
ing to England, but had willingly remained m Persia to fin- 
ish the translation, which being now disposed of, he reverted 
to his original intention, and set out on his last fatal journey 
towards Constantinople, September 2. His journal is filled 
with expressions of gratitude for restored health, delight in 
the scenery of Tabriz, descriptions of the country and the 



42 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 

journey, the Araxes river, the hoary peaks of Ararat, the 
governor's palace, the ancient Armenian church and monas- 
tery at Ech-Miazin, where he received great kindness from 
the Patriarch and the monks. He vras profoundly impressed 
with the view from an elevated table-land looking out upon 
Persia, Kussia and Turkey — a Pisgah vision, which excites 
in later missionaries a strong desire for Christian conquest. 
Describes Cars and Erzroom. September 29, left Erzroom. 
Was attacked with fever and ague. 

" September 30. Took nothing all day but tea ; head- 
ache and loss of appetite depressed my spirits, yet my soul 
rests in Him who is as anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, 
which, not seen, keeps me fast. 

" October 1. Marched over a mountainous tract; we were 
out from seven in the morning till eight at night. After sit- 
ting a little by the fire I was near fainting from sickness. 
My depression of spirits led me to the throne of grace as a 
sinful abject worm. When I thought of myself and my 
transgressions, I could find no text so cheering as, 'My 
ways are not as your ways.' From the men who accompa- 
nied Sir Wm. Ouseley to Constantinople I learned that the 
plague was raging at Constantinople and thousands dying 
every day. One of the Persians had died of it. They added 
that the inhabitants of Tocat were flying from their town 
from the same cause Thus I am passing into imminent dan- 
ger. O Lord thy will be done ! Living or dying, remember 
me. 

" October 2. Lodged in the stables of the post-house. 
As soon as it b^gan to grow a little cold, the ague came on 
and then the fever, after which I had a sleep, which let me 
know too plainly the disorder of my frame. In the night 
Hossan sent to summon me away, but I was quite unable to 



LIFE OF HENKY MAETYN. 43 

move. Finding me still in bed at the dawn he began to 
storm fm'iously at my detaining him so long, but I quietly 
let him spend his ire, ate my breakfast composedly, and set 
out at eight. He seemed determined to make up for the 
delay, for we flew over hill and dale to Sherean, where we 
changed horses. From thence we traveled all the rest of the 
day and all night. It rained most of the time. After sun- 
set the ague came on again, which in my wet state was very 
trying. I hardly know how to keep my life in me. About 
that time there was a village at hand, but Hassan had no 
mercy. The night was pitchy dark, so that I could not see 
the road under my horse's feet. However, God being mer- 
cifully pleased to alleviate my bodily suffering, I went on 
contentedly to the munzil (stopping-place). After sleeping 
three or four hours Hassan hurried me away, and galloped 
furiously toward a village, which he said was four hours dis- 
distant, which was all I could undertake in my present state; 
but village after village did he pass, till night coming on, 
and no signs of another, I suspected he was carrying me on 
to the munzil; so I got off my horse and sat upon the ground 
and told him I neither could nor would go any farther. He 
stormed, but I was immovable, till a light, appearing at a dis- 
tance, I mounted my horse and made toward it, leaving 
him to follow or not as he pleased. He brought in the party, 
but would not exert himself to get a place for me. They 
brought me to an open verandah, but Sergius told them I 
wanted a place in which to be alone. This seemed very offen- 
sive to them, ^ and why must he be alone'-? they asked, 
ascribing this desire of mine to pride, I suppose. Tempted 
at last by money they brought me to a stable room, and 
Hassan and a number of others planted themselves there 
with me. My fever here increased to a violent degree, the 



44 LIFE OF HENRY MARTrN. 

heat in my eyes and forehead was so great that the fire 
almost made me frantic. I entreated that it might be put 
out or that I might be carried out of doors. Neither was 
attended to; my servant, who from my sitting in that 
strange way on the ground, beheved me dehrious, was deaf 
to all I said. At last I pushed my head in among the lug- 
gage and lodged it on the damp ground and slept. 

"October 5. Preserving mercy made me see the light of 
another morning. The sleep had refreshed me but I was 
feeble and shaken, yet the merciless Hassan hurried me off. 
I was pretty well lodged and felt tolerably well till a little 
after sunset, when the ague came on with a violence I had 
never before experienced. I felt as if in a palsy, my teeth 
chattering, and my whole frame violently shaken. Aga 
Ilosyn and another Persian on their way here from Constan- 
tinople, came hastily to render me assistance if they could. 
These Persians appear quite brotherly after the Turks. 
While they pitied me, Hassan sat in perfect indifference, 
ruminating on the further delay this was likely to occasion. 
The cold fit after continumg two or three hours was followed 
by a fever, which lasted the whole night and prevented 
sleep. 

" October 6. No horses were to be had, and I had an 
unexpected repose. Sat in the orchard and thought with 
sweet comfort and peace of my Grod : in solitude my compan- 
ion, friend and comforter. Oh, when shall time give place to 
eternity — when shall appear that new heaven and earth, 
wherein dwelleth righteousness ! There, there shall in no 
wise enter in anything tha.t defileth ; none of that wickedness 
which has made men worse than wild beasts, none of those 
corruptions which add still more to the miseries of humanity, 
shall be seen or heard of any more." 



LIFE OF HENKY MARTYN. 45 

Here abruptly closes the journal, with pantings for the 
glory and the purity of Immanuel's land, into which he 
was admitted by a blessed translation, released from all the 
sufferings of life on October 16, 1812, at Tocat, Turkey. 
The manner of his death is not known, whether it resulted 
from the sickness described, or from the plague, then raging. 
Whether Hassan was cruel and driving to the last, whether 
all his heartless Turkish attendants deserted him or not in 
his hour of final agony, we cannot tell. JSTo relative or 
friend was there, no tender voice of sympathy, no woman's 
soothing hand, no alleviations from medicine. Even the 
commonest decencies and necessities of civilized life were 
lacking. Earth gave nothing to Hemy Martjm in his mortal 
need, but w^e are sure heavenly consolations were unstinted. 
" Jesus can make a dying bed 
Feel soft as downy pillows are." 

And Jesus was there! And Henry Martyn was satisfied, 
and is forever satisfied ! "Precious in the sight of the Lord 
is the death of his saints." And the most priceless legacy of 
the blood-bought and commissioned church is the memory of 
a life, so gifted, so unselfish, so consecrated. 

It is wanting in no element of moral heroism. Our souls 
confess its grandeur. The contemplation lifts us into a 
higher atmosphere than that of mammon, and self, and eartli. 
We rejoice to see a crown so rare, so fair, so precious, laid at 
the feet of Jesus, the King. He is worthy. And we long to 
see the youth of our land and the church inspired by Henry 
Martyn's example, as he was inspired by David Brainerd's, 
And so we would have the apostolic succession continued till 
the millennium, of such as shall not count their lives dear for 
the testimony of the gospel. 

It is said that after Mr. Martyn's death one of his earliest 



46 * LIFE OF HENRY MAKTYN. 

and most devoted friends, the Eev. Charles Simeon, used 
always to keep his picture before him in his study for help 
and inspiration. "Move where he would through the apart- 
ment, it seemed to keep its eyes upon him, and ever to say to 
him, ' Be earnest, be earnest ; don't trifle, don't trifle,' and 
the good Simeon would gently bow to the speaking picture, 
and with a smile, reply, * Yes, I wiU ; I will be in earnest, I 
will not trifle ; for souls are perishing and Jesus is to be 
glorified.'" 

Would that Henry Martyn's life might bring such a mes- 
sage to every heart, and awaken in every one a similar 
response. 



MISSIONARY ANNALS. 



(A SERIES.) 



A STORY OF 



ONE SHORT LIFE, 



1783 to 1818. 



ELISABETH G^ STEYKER. 



CHICAGO: 

Woman's Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions of the Northwest, 

Room 48 McCormick Block, 



Copyright, 1888, 

BY 

Woman's Presbyterian Board op Missions 
OF THE Northwest. 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

I. ANCESTRY — BIBTH— BOYHOOD — CONVERSION. - - - 53 

II. COLLEGE — THE HAYSTACK — EFFORTS TO SPREAD THE INTER- 
EST IN FOREIGN MISSIONS. 58 

III. OBOOKIAH IN HAWAII — IN AMERICA. 62 

IV. THE SANDWICH ISLANDS WITH, AND WITHOUT THE GOSPEL. - 66 

V. MILLS AT ANDOVER — THE AMERICAN BOARD . - - - - 68 

VI. AN APOSTOLIC JOURNEY IN THE UNITED STATES. - - 71 

VII. MILLS' SECOND TOUR. 74 

VIII. THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY — THE UNITED FOREIGN MIS- 
SIONARY SOCLETY. 77 

IX. THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY — MILLS, AS ITS AGENT, 

VISITS AFRICA. - - _ - 81 

X. THE LAST JOURNEY. 86 



49 



As I write, I have in my mind a row of intelligent bo3nsli 
faces. Manly souls look through bright eyes. My heart 
responds to the beats of affection beneath jacket and cut-a- 
way. 

I see also a row of girlish faces, in which Christian and 
womanly graces are dawning. I feel the warmth of pure 
young hearts beginniDg to swell with generous desires. 

These are my real friends. Beyond them I see rows and 
rows of boys and girls whose sympathies and interest I 
would gladly claim. 



PEEFACE. 



Those among us interested in the young people, the boys 
and girls of our Churches, somewhat realize the lack of ma- 
terial wherewith to stimulate and nourish these young work- 
ers. The apiarist studies the nature of the insect which 
must yield him its sweets, and discovers that "the nature of 
the cell and the food affects the difference" in the bees. 
We have long watched our boys and girls, and either we do 
not care what they yield, or we are dull not to notice that 
what smTounds them and enters into their minds, is surely 
deciding their natures. White clover honey can only be 
made from white clover blossoms. What they read and 
what they may be induced to read concerns us as mission 
workers. Individual tastes make many by-paths in the 
field of literature, but the girls all enjoy the windings of 
romance, and the boys dehght in the highway of advent- 
ure. "But,"* they say or think, "Missions, their history 
and progress are so stupid, they have no decent heroes cmd 
heroines. We like Eobinson Crusoe, and Little Women, and 
the Arabian J^ights ! " But do we not know that the stories 
of the lives of some of our missionaries, well told, may stand 
side by side, upon the book-shelves and in the hearts of our 
young people, with the pages of DeFoe and Louise Alcott? 
Many a boy and girl, charmed by the life and fortune of 
some unreal, and oftentimes unworthy, hero, has attempted 
to make copy in his or her own life. Missionary lives are 
not lacking in the spirit, adventure and romance which are 
so fascinating. With these ideals in their minds, may we 

51 



52 PREFACE. 

not expect followers of the Judsons, the Moffats, the Fiskes 
and the Eankins ? 

The writer, who has humbly undertaken to re-tell an old 
tale, is neither a De Foe nor an Alcott. She finds she can 
borrow neither of their pens. Her own, conscious of its in- 
experience, finds its only relief in the fact that the story is 
its own strength. 



SAMUEL J. MILLS. 



CHAPTEE I. 

ANCESTRY — BIRTH — BOYHOOD — CONVERSION. 

OUE country is quietly enjoying the benefits of a great 
activity. Foreign Missions are still feeling a noble im- 
pulse, and the origin of this force was, under God, in the 
heart and brain of Samuel J. Mills. 

It is a name known to us, but a history almost forgotten. 
Only upon the shelves of some antiquarian, or in the undis- 
turbed library of some old homestead can a volume be found 
bearing the title " Mills' Memoirs." Take it down, blow the 
dust from the leaves yellow with sixty-seven years, and you 
will find the narrative related in the stately, old-time style, 
and somewhat laudatory and expansive. 

He had no son, as Adoniram Judson had, gladly to record 
the details of his busy life. The writer w^as Dr. Gardiner 
Spring, who laments having failed in the attempt to obtain 
what appeared to him to be important information. We are 
thankful to him for gathering even these rare fragments. 

From a sketch of Salmon Giddings, the Damon Memo- 
rial, a letter from a relative of Mills, and the life of Henry 
Obookiah have come a few incidents and facts, but mainly in 
the record of Dr. Spring have we found our Story of One 
Sliort Life. Such hid treasure should find the light, even 
though quarried by unskillful hands. 

Biographies are apt to seem discouraging, in the begin- 
ning ; the attention being riveted upon the supposed hero, 

53 



54 ONE SHOET LIFE. 

meets with a shock in finding it has been following the 
history of his great-grandfather. The scattered energies are 
then directed upon the grandfather, only to meet with a 
second delay. Again recovering, and following the father's 
fortunes, the son, the subject of the work, is at last introduced. 

The great-grandfather of our hero must be brought in 
just long enough to answer one question. He was once 
asked, " How did you educate four sons at Yale College, 
and give each a profession ? " His reply was, " Almighty 
God did it, with the help of my wife." The grandfather (of 
our hero) was drowned while some of his children were still 
young. His widow, committing their babes to the God of 
the fatherless, especially offered for His service, a son named 
Samuel John. He became a minister, and for many years 
was settled in Torringford, Connecticut. He was eminent 
for his ability and character. Mrs. Stowe said of him — " He 
was one ingrain JSTew Englander. Of all the marvels that 
astonished my childhood, there is none I remember to this 
day with so much interest as Father Mills." This was tbe 
name by which he was extensively known. His wife was a 
woman exemplary and devout. 

Being assured that the three preceding generations were 
commandment-keeping, we shall see how the Lord showed 
mercy untb the fourth. Almighty God and a true mother 
secure for many a man's sons, not only education, but large 
efficiency and honor. 

The^venth child, born April 21st, 1783, in this Torring- 
ford home, was a son, named after his father, Samuel John. 
The child grew to be a mighty instrument in God's hand, 
which He in His wisdom selected, knowing the fineness of the 
material with which he dealt. That we too may know some- 
thing of the tempering of the steel, we are permitted a rever 



ONE SHORT LIFE. 65 

ent glance into that pious mother's bosom. Before the birth- 
day came she continually dedicated the little life beneath her 
heart to the God who is pleased to accept such gifts. During 
all his childhood he received the most careful Christian train- 
ing. iJTourished in such a home-garden, and shined on by 
such mother-light, we cannot wonder that the child grew 
toward the Sun, and that the roots of rehgious character 
struck deep and spread wide. 

When but a little child he showed an unusual concern of 
conscience. At fifteen the town in which he lived was greatlj'- 
aroused and revived. His friends and acquaintances received 
the blessing, and he was deeply interested, but the revival 
passed, leaving him with a bitter^ rebellious feeling in his 
heart. 

About this time, one fine cold winter morning, a merry 
sleigh load drove from his father's house. He, with his 
brothers, sisters and cousins, about eighteen in all, went to 
spend a few days with his uncle in West Hartford. Sam- 
uel had recently come into the possession of a fine farm. 
He was gay and ambitious. His companions fearing his 
good fortune might make him feel a "little too high minded," 
sought to tease him. The evening before their return, 
after eating nuts and apples, they agreed to have a little 
singing. They struck up " Hark, from the Tombs a Doleful 
Sound," to the tune, Bangor. They sang it slowly and 
solemnly, now and then casting at him glances from their 
mischievous eyes. He sat a silent listener, while their song, 
sung in fun, made an earnest impression of which he could 
not rid himself. 

Soon after his farm was sold, and at eighteen he deter- 
mined to go to Litchfield and study in the Academy. As he 
was leaving home, his mother's anxious heart could not let 



66 ONE SHORT LIFE. 

him go without enquiring for bis soul's health. Other 
mothers know the pain she suffered, when he told her "for 
two years I have been sorry God ever made me." She 
replied to him as her wise heart prompted her, and sent him 
on his way. She went where all mothers of boys must so 
often go, to her knees, alone with God. 

He had not gone far on his journey when he met a Friend. 
It was the Good Shepherd, whom that mother's urgent 
prayer had sent searching for the wanderer. It was as if he 
had met Christ in his path. He looked up at the great trees 
and down at the blossoms, and in everything saw God. He 
became so impressed with the perfections of the Holy One 
he had so long resisted, that he lost sight of himself. He 
sat down in the woods to wonder and to pray. It was not 
until some time after that he realized any change in him- 
self, and not until he returned from Litchfield did his father 
perceive it. His conversion was thorough. ISlot only was he 
turned about, — his face God- ward instead of self-ward, — but 
he was impelled toward "those sitting in darkness." In his 
childhood, from his mother's lips, he often heard stories from 
the lives of Brainerd, Eliot, and other missionaries. He heai'd 
her prayers for them and their great undertakings. Once 
he heard her say, " I have consecrated this child to the ser- 
vice of God as a missionary." ^N'ow it was his joy to follow 
those noble examples, and to fulfill his part in the plans of God 
and his mother for him. His parents approved of his deter- 
mination, though the thought of separation tore their hearts. 
His mother said to him, " I cannot bear to part from you, my 
son." When he reminded her of her vow, she burst into 
tears, and never after made complaint. To his father he said 
that he could " not conceive of any course of life in which to 
pass the rest of his days, that would prove so pleasant, as to 



OiTE SHORT LIFE. 57 

go and communicate the gospel of salvation to the poor 
heathen." 

This desire to spread the Gospel grew to be a sublime pur- 
230se, and from it he never wavered. He set about his plan- 
nings, with this supreme end in view. Thanking God for his 
own salvation, he laid his life in God's hand, imploring Him 
to use it for those who had as yet no knowledge of that 
mercy. The Lord took him from the plough, as he did 
Elisha. He left the field for the college. 



68 ONE SHOKT LIFE. 



CHAPTEE II. 

COLLEGE — THE HAYSTACK — EFFORTS TO SPREAD THE INTEREST IN FOR- 
EIGN MISSIONS. 

HE entered Williams College in the spring of 1806. Dur- 
ing his first visit home in June, he connected himself 
with his father's church. A college course means to some yoang 
men four years of frolic, or worse. To others it is an oppor- 
tunity to cram knowledge, that shall by-and-by astound the 
round world and they that dwell therein. To one, at least,it was 
the time for choosing " smooth stones '' for his combat with the 
giant adversary, whom he was brave enough to meet alone, if 
need be, " in the name of the Lord of Hosts." 

As a scholar he was not brilliant, but as a Christian he 
was '' a bright and shining light." To serve God was the 
highest aim of his life. First of all, he served Him upon his 
knees. He used to pray often and earnestly, alone and with 
others. He pursued his studies for the after use he might 
make of them, not for his own accomplishment. As he ^dsited 
his friends in their rooms, and Avalked with them through the 
groves, the subject dearest to his heart was oftenest the 
theme of his conversation. To one friend he said: " Though 
you and I are very little beings, we must not rest satisfied 
till we have made our influence extend to the remotest cor- 
ner of this ruined world." 

His life was so consistent, his disposition so sweet, his 
manners so winning that every one was his friend. Those 
who had been unfaithful to their vows were reproved, 
and those opposed to religion were induced to follow his 



ONE SHOET li:fe. 59 

example. During his first year there was a revival, which 
seemed to come in answer to his earnest praj^ers. Many of 
his comrades became Christians, and so earnestly that they 
laid aside or sanctified their old ambitions, and prepared to 
spread through the earth the fire kindled by this devoted 
youth. 

A mission band of boys were examined as to their knowl- 
edge of Samuel Mills. " Where was he born ? '' asked the 
leader. '' Under a haystack ! " replied a small boy. Had the 
question been. Where was the American Board of Foreign 
Missions born ? the answer would not have been so far from 
the way. Its baptismal naming came some years later, but 
under a stack of hay in a meadow, near Wilhams College, it 
was born, nursed and prayed over. 

About fourteen years earlier foreign missionary organi- 
ization had begun across the Atlantic. On this side, the at- 
tention of Christians had been occupied with their new homes 
and the needs of the destitute near at hand. There were 
societies of domestic missions ; but no scheme to touch hands 
God-blessed ^Yiih hands idol-cursed, had ever been devised 
before the Lord of both put it into the heart of Mills. '' God 
called him out of the midst of the bush." The bush was 
this haystack, but the place became " holy ground." The 
Lord said: " I have surely seen the affliction of my people, 
and have heard their cry." " Come now, therefore, and I 
will send thee." 

This commission filled his soul. He gathered a few of his 
friends in a grove, to tell them his convictions and his hopes. 
What was his surprise and joy to find that the " Angel of the 
Lord " had appeared to them also. A sudden thunder storm 
came upon them here, but his retreat, his place of safety, 
was near by. He led them under the haystack, and there 



60 Ol^E SHORT LIFE. 

they talked together, and with God. And there they con- 
tinued to meet through two seasons, and finally formed 
themselves into the first Foreign Missionary Society of this 
continent. Its object was " to effect in the persons of its 
members a mission to the heathen." 

From the spot where the haystack once stood, now rises 
a marble shaft, bearing aloft a globe, underneath which is in- 
scribed : 

" The Field is the Woeld." 
" The Birthplace of American Foreign Missions, 1806." 

Samuel J. Mills, 

James Richards, 

Francis L. Robbins, 

Harvey Loomis, 

Btram Green. 
At every commencement, the college president leads to 
this monument a procession of alumni, students, and guests. 
Prayer is offered that the spirit of missions may still prevail 
at Williams, and that the traditions of the past may be 
maintained. 

In these years public opinion was decidedly opposed to 
the enterprise of these young men. Even good men thought 
their zeal extravagant and expected it soon to subside. In 
order to arouse sympathy and a right sentiment, they de- 
vised various means. They discussed their projects with 
Christian people. They distributed missionary sermons. A 
list was made of the names of distinguished ministers, to 
whom these young men made frequent visits, urging their 
suit. Among them, the first to take fire, was Dr. Worcester. 
With one of them. Dr. Griffin, Mills asked to be permitted 
to study theology. Said the Doctor: '' I had always refused 



ONE SHORT LIFE. 61 

such applications, but from the love I bore to him, I agreed 
to criticise one sermon a week. After that exercise he would 
commonly sit and draw letters very moderately and cauti- 
ously from his pocket, reading passages to me on some be- 
nevolent project. At length I perceived that studying 
dimnity with me had been quite a secondary object, that his 
chief object was to get me engaged to execute his plans. As 
soon as I discovered that, I told him to bring out his letters 
and all his plans, without reserve." 

Mills became convinced that they could not expect help 
from the Churches unless the number was increased of young 
men ready to devote their lives to this cause. He and his 
friends then separated for the purpose of establishing socie- 
ties in other colleges. Mills went to Yale, hoping there to 
find kindred spirits. This was not the case, but God had 
sent hun for another purpose, and that to know Obookiah, a 
heathen boy from the Sandwich Islands. This acquaintance 
greatly increased his zeal. 

Sometimes a little seed, wafted by the wind, is borne far 
from its mother plant to take root in a foreign soil : but its 
fruit may be returned whence it came. This little lonely 
heathen child, blown by seemingly cruel and adverse winds, 
was tossed upon our Christian shores by the good hand of 
God. The ship which brought him touched other and idol- 
atrous lands, but he was not to put his feet down till they 
could be planted in the right place. 

That his life touched Mills' life, both being quickened, is 
perhaps reason enough for giving here a portion of Obookiah's 
history and that of his native land, if there were not 
another reason, and that the opportunity, here afforded, of 
following a stream of influence to its sea. 



62 ONE SHORT LIFE. 



CHAPTER III. 

OBOOKIAH IN HAWAII,— IN AMERICA. 

HENEY OBOOKIAH was born in Hawaii, about the 
year 1792. When about twelve years old, two parties 
contending for dominion, disturbed the peace of the island. 
He alone survived the persecution of his family. He Avas 
captured and carried home by the man who killed his parents, 
but finally made his way to an uncle. Though he was well 
treated, he suffered from loneliness. He said of himself, 
" When I was at play with other children, after we had 
made an end of playing, they return to their parents : but I 
was returned into tears, for I have no home, neither father 
nor mother. Poor boy am I." 

He determined to go to some other country, and forget 
his sorrow. The captain of an American vessel showed him 
kindness, and consented to take him on board. He brought 
him to America, and took him to his own home in 'New 
Haven. Henry was a clumsy, stupid-looking boy at this 
time, his appearance not revealing the undeveloped depths 
of his nature. He made the acquaintance of some of the 
students at Yale College, and of the Rev. E. W. D wight. 
These friends becoming interested in his welfare, offered to 
teach him. He accepted their aid with avidity, and made 
wonderful progress, at the same time becoming more and 
more lovable and attractive. 

A fun-loving disposition soon showed itself. Be h:ul 
great difficulty in pronouncing the letter r, giving it tho 
sound of I. Every day his teacher tried to help him, saying. 



ONE SHORT LIFE. 63 

" try, Obookiah, it is very easyP This seemed to amuse the 
boy greatly, though as yet he could not express himself 
in Enghsh. Some time after, when he could speak more 
readily, he was describing to his teacher some of the cus- 
toms of his native land. Clasping his hands together, and 
adjusting his thumbs, he formed a cup which he raised to 
his lips to show how his countrymen drank from a spring. 
His instructor tried to do the same, but before he could 
reach his mouth with his hands the cup would be inverted 
so that the contents, had there been any, would have been 
spilled. Obookiah laughed heartih" and said, " try^ Mr. 
D wight, it is liery easy ! " 

One day he mimicked the gait of some of his friends so 
cleverly, that there was no mistaking whom he intended to 
personate. His teacher then mocked his own awkward 
style, when he exclaimed several times: ''me walk so?" 
Being assured that it was true, he rolled upon the floor until 
his mirth exhausted his strength. 

After being instructed about the true God, idol worship 
seemed to him ridiculous. He said, '' Hawaii gods ! They 
wood, — hum. Me go home, put 'em in a fire, burn 'em up. 
They no see, no hear, no anything." Then added, "We make 
them. Our God," looking up, " He make us." 

After Mr. Mills arrived in N"ew Haven he became a 
friend of Mr. Dwight's, and being often in his room, occa- 
sionally heard this boy recite. He became greatly attached 
to him, and began to cherish a plan for his future. He 
Avanted to see Obookiah a Christian, educated, and then a 
missionary to his native land. 

One evening Mr. Mills had not been long in Mr. Dwight's 
room, when Obookiah came in with a very gloomy face. 
He said he had no place to live ; Mr. did'nt want him 



€4: ONE SHORT LIFE. 

any more, and Miss had threatened to take away his 

new clothes. Mr. Mills told him he would take him to his 
own home, and that he had clothes enough for both. This 
cheered the poor, disconsolate fellow, who soon went with 
Mr. Mills to Torringford, and was placed under the " care of 
those whose benevolence was without a bond or check, or a 
limit to confine it." Here he spent a part of the year 1810, 
and was treated wisely and affectionately. Mrs. Mills 
taught him the Catechism, and her son Jeremiah assisted 
him in his studies. At different times, and frequently, their 
house was his home. 

He became gentle and refined in his manner, a Bible-lov- 
ing, earnest, prayerful Christian. His friends who had been 
so careful in the training of his mind and heart, had not 
neglected his hands. He was taught much that was useful 
and practical, particularly in farming. He surprised all by 
the quickness and eagerness with which he learned. He was 
both inquisitive and acquisitive to a remarkable degree. He 
persisted in knowing and getting, that he might impart w^hat 
he had gained to his own countrymen. To return to them 
for their enlightenment, w^as his consuming desire. 

He visited many families, and many of the churches of 
New England, always creating a deep interest in his mission. 
Many people who had affirmed that the heathen could never 
be reclaimed from their low estate, were forced to change 
their opinions after seeing and knowing Obookiah, and were 
inspired to pray and give for his and other unevangelized 
races. 

The presence of Obookiah in this country, as well as of 
other heathen youth, together with the desire to educate 
some of our own Indians, led to the formation of the Foreign 
Mission School, at Cornwall, Mass. This school was under 



ONE SHOET LIFE. 65 

the care of the American Board ten years. Its pupils Avere 
from many different nations. In 1826 it was discontinued, 
for by this time the missions were able to educate the young 
at their several stations. 

Obookiah was pm'suing his studies here, when, in the be- 
ginning of the year 1818, he was stricken with typhus fever, 
and suffered several weeks. On the lYth of February, 1818, 
he shook hands with all his companions present, and with 
perfect composure addressed to them the parting salutation 
of his native language, " Alloah o e " — " my love be with 
you." 

Mrs. Stone, in whose house he died, and who cared for 
him with Christian kindness during his sickness, said, '' This 
had been one of the happiest and most profitable periods of 
her life ; that she had been more than rewarded for her cares 
and watchings by day and night, in being permitted to wit- 
ness his excellent example, and to hear his godly conversa- 
tion." 

Almost immediately after his death, missionaries, inspired 
by his fife, hastened to accomplish his cherished purpose, the 
establishment of a mission in the Sandwich Islands. Mills 
was far from home, but returning at the time, not knowing 
Obookiah had died, he said to a friend, " If it please God that 
I may arrive safely, I think that I shall take Obookiah and go 
to the Sandwich Islands and there I wiU. end my hfe." 

From that day to this, missionaries and missions, schools, 
churches and Christians have multiplied, tiH aU those islands 
name the name of Christ. 



G-J ONE SHORT LIFE, 



CHAPTER lY. 

THE SANDWICH ISLES WITH AND WITHOUT THE GOSPEL. 

'' Surely the isles shall wait for me." 

THE missionaries found upon these islands naked savages, 
without books, education, or courts of justice. The peo- 
ple were slaves, governed arbitrarily by chiefs. It was a nation 
of debauchees, thieves and drunkards. There were no mar- 
riage laws. Two-thirds of the children born were destroyed. 
If an infant was ailing or troublesome, the mother scooped a 
hole in the ground, covered the child with earth and tram- 
pled out its life. The aged and infirm were taken to the 
brow of a precipice and pushed over. The sick were removed 
to such a distance that their groans could not annoy, and left 
to die. The insane were stoned to death. 

God opened the way for the missionaries by a revolution 
which did away with idolatry, but did nothing for the up- 
lifting of society. Some of the noblest specimens of our 
American manhood have devoted their lives to these deso- 
late, far-away creatures. The mention of one will suffice as 
a sample of the salt that purified those bitter and filthy 
waters. 

When he stepped on shore at Hilo, in 1832, it was to stay 
till his work was finished — and he lived beyond the three 
score and ten. Such a life is a rebuke to the restlessness of 
many modern workers. For forty-two years he labored pa. 
tiently in pressing himself and what he knew upon Hawaiian 
youth — nearly a thousand in all — many of whom are now 
pastors, leading lawyers, men of affairs, missionaries to Mi- 



cronesia, and the men who stand for righteousness in the 
native churches. Great events and advances in science were 
exciting his native land, but he worked on, strugghng for 
things unseen and eternal. Amid uninspiring surroundings, 
and performing many menial duties, he led a high spiritual 
and intellectual life, not seeking honor, but service — thereby 
gaining honor, and the "rest that remaineth." 

As for the results of such consecration, wisdom and work, 
the facts are a marvel in history. Any prophecy in regard 
to them would have been thought a wild dream. These 
islanders have taken their place among the Christian nations. 
Marriage is considered honorable, the family established, as 
well as schools, churches a.nd a government, whose constitu- 
tion ordains that " no law shall be enacted at variance with 
the word of the Lord Jehovah, or with the general spirit of 
His word." 

In proportion to the population, there are more readers 
than in Boston. The proportion of true Christians is as great 
as anywhere in Christendom. They are decently clad, their 
homes are comfortable, even sometimes going so far as to 
possess a melodeon and a sewing-machine ! They have pro- 
gressed in agriculture, commerce, the industries, literature 
and the arts. It is a regenerated nation. 

The American Board has erased this mission from its 
list and transferred all responsibihty to the Hawaiian Evan- 
gelical Association. 



68 ONE SHORT LIFE. 



CHAPTEE V. 

MILLS AT ANDOVER — THE AMERICAN BOARD. 

FKOM Yale College, Mills went to Andover to study 
theology. Soon after entering, his dear mother died- 
His grief was passionate. He mourned for the loss of her 
face, her voice, her prayers, but not as one " without hope." 

At Andover he met some of his former friends, and 
found new ones whose hearts the Lord had stirred — Newell, 
Judson, Nott, Hall, Mills ! Names to shout at the sleeping 
saints of this our day ! Lives to uphold to the view of our 
self -pleasing generation ! These men organized a second 
missionary society, similar to the one at "Williams. They 
met to pray and plan. Their prayers were ansAvered and 
their plans resulted in the formation of the American Board 
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 

If the objections made to their plans were here rehearsed, 
the arguments would sound very familiar; they are the 
same, in spite of their repeated death-blows, that array them- 
selves against the plan of missions to-day. The assailants 
of this cause are not students of history. There is no such 
thing as opposition, or even indifference, to Christian mis- 
sions, imless there is ignorance behind it. 

"These young men succeeded in gaining the sympathy 
and alliance of some of the prominent pastors, and the pro- 
fessors in the seminary. To the annual meeting of the Gen- 
eral Association of Massachusetts, at Bradford, June 27, 
1810, they presented the following paper : 

The undersigned, members of the Divinity College, respectfully re- 



ONE SHORT LIFE. 69 

quest the attention of their Reverend Fathers, convened in the General 
Association at Bradford, to the following statement and inquiries: 

They beg leave to state, that their minds have been long impressed 
with the duty and importance of personally attempting a mission to the 
heathen; that the impressions on their minds have induced a serious, and 
they trust a prayerful, consideration of the subject in its various attitudes, 
particularly in relation to the probable success and the difficulties attending 
such an attempt; and that after examining all the information which they 
can obtain, they consider themselves as devoted to this work for life, when- 
ever God in his providence shall open the way. 

They now offer the following inquiries, on which they solicit the 
opinion and advice of the association. Whether, with their present views 
and feelings, they ought to renounce the object of missions, as visionary 
and impracticable; if not, whether they ought to direct their attention to 
the Eastern or Western world? Whether they may expect patronage and 
support from a missionary society in this country, or must commit them^ 
selves to the direction of a European society; and what preparatory meas- 
ures they ought to take previous to actual engagement ? 

The undersigned, feeling their youth and inexperience, look up to 
their fathers in the church and respectfully solicit their advice, direc- 
tion and prayers. 

Adoniram Judson Jr. 

Samuel Nott Jr. 

Samuel J. Mills. 

Samuel Newell. 

The names of Eice and Eichards were struck off " for fear 
of alarming the Association with too large a number." 

This paper Avas referred to a special committee, who 
indorsed the sentiment and submitted a plan to the associa- 
tion, which was carried into effect by the appointment of a 
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 

After much exertion and inquiry at home, Judson was 
sent to England to learn if help could be expected from the 
London Missionary Society. He found that society wilhng 
to take the young men under its care and support, but not 
ready to assist the new Board. 

The American society soon received aid within its own 



70 OKE SHOET LIFE. 

boundaries, which was a far better beginning than to be de- 
pendent upon outside resources. Mrs. Mary J^orris, the wife 
of one of the founders of Andover Seminary, bequeathed thirty 
thousand dollars to the Board. God's Spirit generally revived 
the churches, opening the eyes and hearts of His people, 
their purses as well, though not many of the latter were 
well filled in those days. 

God only has a full record of the anxious courage and 
faith which was exercised by the supporters, managers, 
and appointees of the Board during those first struggling 
years. Under the care of this board Mills and his friends 
placed themselves, and by it most of them were sent out in 
the year 1812. 



ONE SHORT LIFE. 71 



CHAPTEE YI. 

AN APOSTOLIC JOURNEY IN THE UNITED STATES. 

FROM the first throb of his Christian life, the heart of 
Mills beat like a soldier's. He called out the recruits, 
captained the forces, and died in service — a hero! In his 
student days he had a compelling influence upon his class- 
mates, and even then showed signs of generalship in his 
faculty of organizing. The establishment of the Foreign 
Mission School was largely consequent upon his suggestions ; 
in the formation of the American Board he was one of the 
foremost personal instruments. 

Studies finished, his heart firm in his lofty purpose, high- 
born schemes began their struggling claim for his attention. 
The world with all its lands stretching their help-beckoning 
fingers, was persuading him. Over the home land, his and 
ours, he turned his penetrating glance. He saw occasion 
for vast concern, and here was his first response. To go 
first, opening the way for others through the tangled wil- 
derness, was his design, his master-plot. That " divine fer- 
ment "* at Williams College worked the good of home, as 
well as of foreign, missions. 

Having chosen a companion-spy, the Eev. John Scher- 
merhorn, soon after his graduation in 1812, he went to view 
a goodly land, which he desired to have the people of God 
go up and possess. This tour was undertaken under the 
patronage of the Connecticut and Massachusetts Home Mis- 
sionary Societies. Heretofore these societies had prayed 
and wept over young missionaries sent to the uncivilized 



^2 ONE SHORT LIl'E. 

wilds of "Western New York ! The plan of Mills and Sclier- 
merhorn was to travel through the wide territory lying 
between the great lakes and the Gulf of Mexico, to learn the 
moral condition of the inhabitants, and scatter what good 
they might. 

The map of this region, as published in Morse's school 
atlas of 1823, is curiously different from the maps of the 
present day. The state and territorial lines have been 
altered, those green, pink, and yellow blanks have become 
densely freckled and wrinkled, by the dots of cities and 
towns, and by the complicated tracery of railroads. 

These travelers did not telegraph their intended arrival, 
nor sleep and dine their way to their journey's end, on the 
" Flyer," and then rest in some palatial hotel at last. Each 
mounted his horse, taking ivith them by way of baggage 
all that was necessary for the trip, — tent, provisions, cloth- 
ing and Bibles. They plodded through miry swamps, they 
climbed up and down almost perpendicular ledges, and cut 
their way through canebrakes with a hatchet. When they 
had creeks to cross they swam their horses. At night they 
camped, often in the rain and sometimes without food. 
More than once they were serenaded by Indian war-whoops 
and the howling wolves. Stopping at town or settlement 
they were made cordially at home in hut and cabin. In 
some places they perceived bright prospects, the germs of 
future cities, and were often urgently besought to stay and 
preach the gospel permanently. 

They found everywhere the Sabbath profaned, only a 
few good people in any one place, and Bibles rare posses- 
sions. In some places the people were longing for the Gos- 
pel. In all the leading towns they formed Bible societies, 
and everywhere preached and distributed Bibles, which were 
gladly received. 



OXE SHORT LII*E. 73 

From N"ashville they went down the Cumberland and 
Mississippi with General Jackson and fifteen hundred volun- 
teers. In IS^ew Orleans they gained the consent of Bishop 
DeBury to distribute the Scriptures in French to the French 
Romanists, who made up three-fourths of the population of 
the state. They found no Protestant church in the city. 
They here organized a Bible society, and remained several 
weeks to preach and to hold prayer-meetings. 



74 ONE SHOET LIFE. 



CHAPTER YIL 



MILLS SECOND TOUR. 



IN the year 1814 Mr. Mills having obtained the assistance 
of some of the eastern Bible societies, and having cho- 
sen as companion the Rev. Daniel Smith, started on another 
tour through the South and West. They went laden with 
Bibles and the prayers of Christian friends. They went 
through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, lUinois and Missouri. 
In all these states they found the people " exceedingly desti- 
tute of religious privileges," and a "lamentable want of 
Bibles and missionaries." They found '' American families 
who never saw a Bible, or heard of Jesus Christ." There 
was only one minister to ten thousand people if equally 
placed ; but there were districts containing from twenty to 
fifty thousand " without a preacher." These men were hght- 
bringers to this " valley of the shadow of death," as Mills 
called it. They found Enghsh soldiers, French Romanists, 
colored slaves, our own dear countrymen, greedy for the 
bread of life. 

They traveled more than six thousand miles ; they passed 
through a variety of climates ; they endured " perils in the 
city, perils of the wilderness, perils on the rivers and on the 
sea," that they might cast that bread upon the waters which 
you and I are finding after many days. 

Mills arrived for the second time in New Orleans, soon 
after the celebrated battle of January 8, 1815, and cheered 
many hearts by his coming. He visited the soldiers in 
prison, the sick and wounded in the hospitals ; kneeling on 



OKE SHOET LIFE. 75 

the bare floor where they lav, he prayed and talked with 
them, sang for them, and gave them Bibles ; he preached in 
camp. The Philadelphia society had given him a quantity 
of French Bibles. The people were clamorous for them. 
They thronged the distributor's door, and remained even after 
the notice had been given that no more could be had until 
the following day. They came sometimes from great 
distances. In one week a thousand copies were given awa3\ 
In one instance a Romish priest assisted in this work. The 
bishop acknowledged the deplorable state of the people, and 
preferred their having the Protestant version to none at all. 

When these adventurers in Christ's kingdom visited St. 
Louis, they found it a place of two thousand inhabitants, — 
" a tumble-down French village, — built mainly of wooden 
slabs and poles set vertically, and well daubed with mortar 
mixed with straw, though there were many log houses." 
In a school-room they delivered the first Presbyterian or 
Congregational sermons ever preached on the west side of 
the Mississippi. They were gratefully received, and had 
crowded audiences. The people would gladly have supported 
either one could he have stayed. 

3nt the immediate duty of these explorers for souls was 
to return to the churches which had sent them out, to report 
what they had discovered, and to beg that men be sent to 
these waste places which were waiting to be made to blos- 
som. All 'New England was roused to effort by their appeal, 
and the next year ten or twelve men responded to the 
summons. 

In 1848 the word " gold " was whispered in California 
and heard all over the world. The gold-hunters pressed for- 
ward from every corner of the earth. It was not thought 
a hard thing to turn one's back on home, friends and country, 



T6 ONE SHORT LIFE. 

for the sake of gold, though that ghttering promise was, to 
most of those who searched, like the bag at the end of the 
rainbow, and all the riches of this world " make themselves 
wings/' " The promises of God are sure,'' and the riches 
which He bestows are everlasting ; and yet to the call, gold 
and glory, young men answer by the thousand, while to the 
cry, Christ and a crown, they respond by the dozen! 
'' Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." 



ONE SHORT LIFE. 77 



CHAPTEE YIII. 

THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY— THE UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 

DUEING these two missionary journeys the heart of our 
apostle was swelling with the woes of the sin-bound, 
and his brain contriving for their release. Upon his return he 
settled in I^e w York state, and spent two busy years in work- 
ing out his purposes. While waiting for their maturity he was 
most of the time in the large cities, particularly ]^ew York. 
Here he spent what might have been leisure, in visiting 
the poor in the neglected districts. He also wrote many 
letters; and in the churches, and everywhere, and upon every- 
body, m^ged attention to the world's great needs, and their 
great duties. As the result of this planning, waiting and 
working, he was permitted to see formed the American Bible 
Society, and the United Foreign Missionary Society. On 
the subject of city evangelization, he advanced ideas which 
we at this striving time might well study. 

The entire destitution of rehgious privileges which Mills 
had witnessed in the West and South, and the great desire of 
the people for the word of God, with their inability to supply 
themselves, made him eager for the formation of a National 
Bible Society, which should be large enough and strong 
enough to supply such great want. He had some hope of 
having the matter brought out at the general assembly of 
the Presbyterian church ; but it was thought best to have it 
come about through the existing Bible societies, rather than 
have it bear the features of any denomination. 

The matter was kept constantly before influential peo- 



T8 ONE SHOET LIFE. 

pie by this indefatigable man, and at last on the 8th of 
May, 1816, delegates from the different Bible societies of 
the United States convened in New York city, and resolved 
unanimously " to establish, without delay, a General Bible 
Institution, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, with- 
out note or comment." Before closing their sessions a con- 
stitution was adopted, managers elected, and an address 
issued to the people of the United States, informing them of 
the project, and inviting their sympathy and cooperation in 
this benevolent scheme. 

This was a great day to Mills, and those who saw him, 
sitting apart, watching ^vith intense eagerness the delibera- 
tions of the convention, long remembered his dehghted face. 
But how must the resources and usefulness of this society 
have exceeded even his fond hopes ! 

As its first depository, it shared the oiRce room of its 
agent. From time to time it was forced to move to larger 
quarters, until the year 1853, when it located permanently, 
in its well-known building, The Bible House, on Astor Place, 
New York city. This edifice is of brick, six stories high, 
and occupies a solid block. In its first year, the society 
received $37,779, and issued 6,410 volumes ; in its seventieth 
year (1886) its receipts were $523,910, and it issued 1,437,440 
volumes. In the Bible House, the working force — manu- 
facturing and executive — numbers about 250. The auxili- 
aries which directly and indirectly center in this society, 
number about 7,000. 

From this great tree and its many branches, the leaves 
have been sent for the healing of nations. There are now but 
few countries where there are any impediments to the free 
circulation of the Scriptures. In our own land the society 
has afforded relief to its feeble auxiliaries, has supplied des 



ONE SHOET LIFE. 79 

titute Sabbath-schools, has endeavored to place the Bible in 
the common schools, to distribute it among soldiers and sea- 
men, to furnish hotels, steamboats, railroads, and humane 
and criminal institutions. By it, the Bible has been circu- 
lated among immigrants, the destitute poor, the freedmen, 
the Chinese, and (in the Douay version) among Komanists. 
At four diflPerent periods the society has made exploration 
among the states and territories, to search and supply the 
destitute. Proportionately the number of families without 
the word of God is much smaller now than when the society 
was organized, notwithstanding the enormous growths in 
population. 

The society has attempted to send the Bible to all the 
inhabitants of the earth, accessible to its agents. It has 
established depots in almost every place where the American 
churches have missions. It circulates the Scriptures in more 
than eighty different languages and dialects. In 1856, in 
compliance with a special request, and by means of a special 
gift, the Society's Imperial Quarto English Bible, bound with 
extraordinary care, enclosed in a rosewood case, and ac- 
companied by a courteous letter, was sent to each of the 
reigning monarchs and other chief magistrates of the world. 

Before the art of printing, the Bible was the most expen- 
sive book in the world. So late as the American Ee volution, 
in its cheapest edition a volume could not be purchased for 
less than two dollars. This society now furnishes a co23y 
of the entire book for twenty-five cents. It has made the 
Bible the cheapest book in the world. 

Mills, anxious to see eYery wheel set in motion for the 
advancement of Christ's kingdom, was restless because of the 
inaction of the Presbyterian church in the cause of Foreign 
Missions; again by his personal influence upon prominent 



80 ONE SHORT LIFE. 

men, another plan was matured. A committee was appointed 
by the General Assembly to confer with committees from the 
Dutch and Scotch churches, and a new society was formed, 
called the United Foreign Missionary Society. After a few 
years of efficient service this society was merged with the 
American Board, yielding to it its name and affairs. 

While so busy with these schemes just referred to, Mr. 
Mills was collecting all possible information in regard to 
South America. He desired to have the way opened for a 
mission in that country, and was willing to go himself to 
make the needed investigations. But it was seven years 
later when the American Board sent the first men to that 
field. 

In spite of these great enterprises, which must have been 
so absorbing of time and energy, this busy man found oppor- 
tunity and strength to search out the squalid back streets of 
l^ew York, and to go from house to house of its wretched 
inhabitants, giving sympathy, speaking words of Christian 
love and instruction, and where they would receive them 
leaving the word of God and good books. 



ONE SHORT LIFE. 81 



CHAPTEK IX. 

THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY— MILLS, AS ITS AGENT, VISITS AFRICA. 

ABEAHAM LIJ^COLIS", when a young man, made a 
journey into the South. Of all the impressions 
which those new scenes made upon him, the one deepest 
and strongest was that of slavery. It filled him with loath- 
ing, but kindled a zeal which never slumbered, until it cost 
his priceless life. 

It was such a spark which became a fire in the oreast of 
Mills. What he saw and what he heard, during those south- 
ern tours, made him a willing martyr for the sake of Africa's 
sons and daughters. Their degradation made him ready to 
endure all things if only he could pierce the black cloud 
overshading them. His first effort resulted in a school, 
called the African School, for training young colored men to 
teach and preach to their own race. He then lent essential 
aid in the formation of the American Colonization Society. 

This society was composed of noble-minded men whose 
pitying attention was fastened upon the bondage, afflictions 
and heathenism of their black brothers, in this so called free 
land. 

Their aim was to furnish a refuge, in their own country, 
for those who were emancipated here, and it was their hope 
that such a scheme would do much tov»^ard the abolition of 
slavery. 

Their first effort was the collection of information : first, 
in regard to the condition of the slave here, that they might 
enlist general sympathy in their work. In a letter written 
6 



82 ONE SHOET LIFE. 

by Mr. Mills about this matter, he said : " State facts. 
Facts will always produce an effect, at least on pious minds. 
You can easily possess yourself of facts, the bare recital of 
which will make the heart bleed." From the extensive ob- 
servations he had made in the South, and by having the 
subject so long in his mind, he was very ready to " state 
facts," and did so in every time and place. The informa- 
tion needed, in the second place, by the society was in re- 
gard to a suitable location for the colony, and the methods 
which would be required to obtain it. Mr. Mills was made 
their agent. 

He chose as a colleague, to share his responsibility, the 
Kev. Mr. Burgess. After some months of preparation they 
left America, planning to visit England first for information 
and assistance and then Africa, for the accomplishment of 
their errand. 

His father says of the "good-bye" which he bade him, 
at the time, that "he enjoyed peculiar peace of mind, com- 
mitting himself entirely to the guidance and protection of 
the Almighty." He, who had endured so many hardships 
for Christ's sake, knew in whom he trusted. 

After about two weeks' sailing, they encountered a fear- 
ful storm and had need of all their faith. The wind blew 
furiously for thirty-six hours. The captain ordered the 
masts cut away and the decks cleared. He remained on 
deck, calmly giving orders, until they were driven almost 
upon a ledge of rocks. Despairing of any safety in the 
ship, he abandoned her, taking his children with him in a 
small boat. Some of those left on board the ship, in their 
agony of peril, were in the cabin, beseeching the mercy of 
Him who rules the violent sea. Others were on deck, where 



ONE SHORT LIFE. 83 

All unexpectedly, a counter current bore them into deeper 
water, past the rocks. All exclaimed, " It is the work of 
God ! " A gloomy night they spent tossing on the sea, but 
in the morning quiet came. The mate assumed control, and 
by using what crippled forces they could command, they 
found their way to a harbor of France. 

From there they proceeded to London. They were cor- 
dially received by a number of distinguished men and offic- 
ials. Among them Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. Zachary 
Macauly, the former governor of Sierra Leone, who intro- 
duced them to the Duke of Gloucester. They met every- 
where with Christian sympathy, and the kindest offers of 
service. Having obtained letters to the governors of colonies 
in Africa, they left England for the west coast, February 3, 
1818. 

This voyage was a pleasant one, and brought them in 
about thirty days to the mouth of the Gambia. They 
anchored near the village of St. Mary's, and went to inspect 
this and other settlements. They made the acquaintance of 
the governors and the Europeans, everywhere gathering 
useful and pertinent facts. 

They proceeded south, visiting towns and villages, and 
calling upon the kings and head men. On these occasions 
they were received in the "palaver house," by the chiefs 
arranged in true African style, regardless of taste. One was 
described as wearing "a silver-laced coat, a superb three- 
cornered hat, blue-bafta trousers, considerably the worse for 
wear, and no stockings or shoes." The insignia of royalty 
were a silver-headed cane in one hand, a horse-tail in the 
other. Before the palaver could go on, the hosts must re- 
ceive presents, and as their guests had oftenest been slave 
traders, rum and tobacco had become essentials. 



■■■■■H^HHI^ 



84 ONE SHOET LIFE. 

By means of interpreters they made known their friendly 
feelings, and that they had come from America. " That 
wise and good men had agreed to help the black people who 
wished to come to this country ; that the design was a good 
one, and would promote the best interests of the black peo- 
ple both in America and Africa; that if they would sell or 
give tracts of their unimproved lands, the people who came 
would introduce more knowledge of the arts and agriculture, 
would buy such things as they had to sell, and would sell to 
them such things as they wanted;" that the children were 
to be educated ; that they had come as messengers of peace 
and good tidings, bringing no weapons in their hands — that 
they did not desire war. 

They found that African kings knew the art of being 
slothful in business. They seemed to have no idea of 
dispatch, but would talk for hours without coming to the 
point. In general their reception was cordial, and, in some 
instances, more than that. Land was offered them in five 
different places. Their greatest obstacle was the unsavory 
reputation of the white men who had preceded them, — the 
slave-traders and merchants, — men who had been gross, violent 
and rapacious. One of the natives who saw Mr. Mills and 
Mr. Burgess in prayer, said he "never knew before that 
white men' prayed ! " 

They found that the natives would not be unwilling to 
give up their superstitions, and were gratified at the pros- 
pect of education for their children ; that they would be glad 
to have God's word, and the pure rehgion it teaches. One 
old man with white hair and beard, wished for this good time 
to come at once ; he wanted to know more about God's book 
before he died. 



OITE SHORT LIFE. 85 

entiously made by the agents, enabled them to report to 
their society that the project was both practicable and expedi- 
ent. After due consideration of the instructions and recom- 
mendations of experienced foreigners, and the details of 
exploration, which this report furnished them, the society 
thought it most wise to proceed with the undertaking. 

After seeking needed individual and governmental aid, 
and perfecting so far as possible the organization, the first 
colony was sent to Africa in 1820. They endured the dis- 
couraging vicissitudes which are generally incident to new 
settlements, and in a few years success seemed certain. 

In 1847 LiBEuiA became an established free republic. 
The constitution is modeled upon our own. 



86 ONE SHORT LIFE. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE LAST JOURNEY — BRIG "SUCCESS," FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1818. 

'' ~V"TTE have taken an affectionate leave of the clergy- 

V V men, the civil officers, and the colonists of Sierra 

Leone. We are embarked for the United States, by way 

of England ; and the continent of Africa recedes from our 

I view." 

' This is the last entry in Mills' journal. Three months 
had been spent in Africa ; months of unsparing toil, under 
a scorching sun, amid depressing pagan scenes. But the 
undertaking had been reasonably successful, and tired bodies 
had been upheld by grateful hearts. 

On shipboard once more, with faces turned homeward, 
opportunity came for fatigue to assert itself. The strength 
of Mills, never great at the best, began to fail. A deep 
spirituality, which had possessed him through all the jour- 
ney, grew stronger and stronger. And as they were wafted, 
day by day, nearer home, it became evident that his spirit, 
too, was nearing its desired haven. Fever burned his body; 
but at last eternal health claimed his soul. Under a glow- 
ing sunset, he was buried, to wait until the sea surrenders 
its dead. 

The one great desire of his life, " to sit in some quiet 
corner and teach the perishing," was unfulfilled ; but God 
through him had sent, and yet sends, many teachers to many 
far corners. 

Thirty-five years, only, of mortal life was allotted him 
in which to accomplish so much ; yet it was time enough, — 



ONE SHORT LIFE. 87 

not because of his uiicomnion gifts, but because be knew the 
secret of well doing. He did not attempt to be the origin — 
the source, but gloried m being the channel through which 
God poured His great thoughts, ^o time was lost by 
obstructions ; the dredge that kept the channel free was 
prayer — private, social, public, constant prayer, not for him- 
self, but for God's glory. 



THE END. 



m 



